Grace Cockburn knew from a young age that music was her passion. Not many of us make a living out of following our passion, but Grace is living proof it can be done. Grace sat down with Maive McKenzie and told her life story.....so far.

I was born in Brisbane but moved to Sydney almost right away.

Growing up, music was a huge part of my life, thanks to my mum, who was a piano teacher. Even though she's retired now, her passion for music set the tone for my childhood.

Our house was always filled with melodies, not just because of Mum's teaching but also because my older sister played the flute. The constant music in our home was more than just background noise; it was the heartbeat of our daily life and something that truly inspired and shaped me from a young age.

From the very beginning, I was surrounded by music. I remember the sound of Mum’s piano and my sister’s flute as if they were part of the family. These early experiences with music didn’t just fill the air; they filled my heart with a love for the art form that has stayed with me ever since. It was a magical way to grow up, and those early influences played a big part in defining who I am today.

As a child, I never really thought about doing anything other than music. It was always the path I wanted to follow, and I was incredibly fortunate because my parents were extremely supportive of my passion. Their encouragement meant I could dive into my creative side fully and even earn a decent living doing something I loved.

Growing up with such backing allowed me to explore music deeply and made it possible for me to turn that passion into a rewarding career. It wasn’t just a hobby; it was the foundation of my future, and having that kind of support made all the difference.

As a child, I dreamed of performing for a living. I performed solo and in choirs from the age of 5 and enjoyed honing my musical skills through performance.

My love for music was so strong that there was no question what my path would be. I loved the thrill of being on stage and connecting with an audience through music. That energy and joy of performing were what really made me fall in love with the idea of a career in music.

My first jobs were in hospitality, starting at a restaurant that my family frequented every Saturday. When I turned sixteen, I figured, why not ask for a job there? And that’s how I started working at the place I knew so well. I ended up working in hospitality until my mid-twenties, juggling it with my music. I was always a people person and picked things up quickly, which helped me fit right in.

Of course, hospitality can be challenging. Customers easily dehumanise you when they're hungry. Those years were a right of passage, though. I learned a lot about interacting with people, handling tough situations, and keeping a smile even when things get hectic.

I had always been keen on furthering my music studies but elected to travel first. My partner - at the time - and I lived with my mum, saving up for our adventures until I turned 20. In 2011, while still at Mum’s place, I heard through word-of-mouth about a choir called Isabella a Cappella, led by Dylan Curnow. I joined and ended up going on a musical tour to Japan with them. It was an amazing whirlwind of culture, gigs and travel. Being so young, I felt I didn't have the maturity to take it all in enough.

After returning from Japan, my partner and I took our hard-earned dollars and travelled to Europe. After some time living in London, we acquired visas for the Netherlands and settled for two years in the city of Rotterdam. Scoring desk jobs, we worked during the week and spent the weekends travelling to France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, and anywhere we could squeeze in!

(Arriving in Rotterdam for the first time)

Living overseas was a thrilling experience for me. Everything felt so accessible and alive, which made exploring and settling in incredibly exciting. Dropping myself into a new city where I didn’t know anyone was a rush, and having my partner by my side made the adventure even more special. We were truly in it together, and that made the whole experience even richer.

The connections I made and experiences I shared while travelling helped shape my world view and I hold them close to my heart.

The beginning was tough, bouncing between hostels with no solid income —but getting through that rough start and figuring things out on our own was an empowering experience. It taught us resilience and made the moment we finally settled into an apartment and job even more satisfying.

After two and a half years away, I really started to miss home. Holland, with its flat, good-for-bicycle landscapes, made me long for the rolling hills of the Northern Rivers.

I returned briefly for my mum’s wedding, which was a beautiful celebration, but it also made me realise how much I was missing out on my loved ones' lives back home. Being away had its highs, but the distance also highlighted how much I missed the familiar comforts and connections of Australia.

Returning to Australia, I found myself in a massively transitional phase at the end of my first long-term relationship. I moved to Melbourne and taught singing as well as waitressing.

Moving to Melbourne turned out to be a fantastic decision. The city is bursting with life, especially in the art and music scenes. My waitress job was in a 24-hour Italian restaurant, so I met a lot of late-nighters - musicians. Working there not only introduced me to some great people but also allowed me a window into the vibrant world of Melbourne’s music community.

I decided it was time to dive into studying music more seriously, so on the advice from a friend, I auditioned for The Jazz Music Institute (JMI) in Brisbane. I was admitted and packed up and moved to Brisbane to study Jazz music.

I was pretty apprehensive at first, not having any connections other than family in Brisbane. But I quickly fell in love with the city and the connections I've made here. It's been my home base ever since. I now play in 3 bands, one of them my own original project, teach voice and piano and musically direct choirs. These diverse jobs can all be attributed to the skills and connections I made at JMI.

In 2017, Dylan decided to squeeze in one last tour before retiring from directing Isabella A Cappella, and I was lucky enough to join them. It was a small crew—just the four of us—but I was thrilled for the chance to be a part of it and to visit Japan again.

It was amazing to return and soak it all in a bit more deeply. Everywhere we went, the people were incredibly accommodating and their passion for music was palpable. I met so many remarkable individuals who made lasting impressions on me. We visited an array of fantastic places—Lismore’s sister city Yamatotakada and also Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Chiba, Fukuoka, and Fukushima. Our schedule was packed; there were even days when we hit two cities in one day!

(Learning the koto in Japan)

We stayed in various accommodations, but we also had the chance to experience a few homestays, and those were where we met the most incredible people. One morning, two kids hopped into my bed to wake me up, and their parents were utterly mortified, but it was just the sweetest thing!

I picked up enough Japanese for basic pleasantries, but there were still some language barriers, especially during those homestays. Even though their English was better than my Japanese, we had to take care to try to communicate. One of the mums, during our stay, would often give me a word-for-word lesson whenever I didn’t quite understand something, which was super helpful and really sweet!

After the tour, Dylan asked me to take over as the director, and I jumped at the opportunity to continue their wonderful legacy. I officially started the role in 2018, and it’s been an incredible journey ever since.

Outside of work, I enjoy yoga and pilates when I get the time. I also enjoy reading and cooking, but my biggest passion has always been music. Sometimes it’s tricky to separate music from work since it’s both my art form and my income. I try not to let it feel like a business all the time. I genuinely love making music, and recently, I’ve started learning the bass. It’s a helpful way to shift focus away from the business side of things since I usually play the piano and sing professionally. Exploring something new like this has been a great way to keep that creative and playful spark alive.

Like so many of my fellow musos, being in the music industry during COVID-19 was a real challenge. At first, we were super ambitious in Isabella A Cappella and tried to keep things going with Zoom rehearsals. We tried multiple setups - separate part rehearsals, everyone on mute, and me leading one-on-one Zoom sessions. We even had everyone film themselves singing an excerpt of one of our arrangements and cut it together into a video. However, coordinating everyone with different internet connections and audio setups was challenging.

For about 6 to 8 months, we couldn't meet in person due to restrictions and then the devastating natural disasters that hit the region in 2021. It was a tough period, but we made it work as best we could.

(During a live jazz gig)

Another blow came when Southern Cross University cut our funding, ending our 37-year relationship with the uni.

We found ourselves without a home base and no financial support. But the Northern Rivers Conservatorium came to the rescue, offering us a rehearsal space. This new connection with The Con felt aligned with the choir's history and ethos. The Con’s building, after all, was where Isabella A Cappella first started rehearsing in 1984, as that was the location of SCU's music department. And The Con’s director happens to be a former choir member. Despite the upheaval, we were just thrilled to keep making music and to be together again.

Being a musical director has been quite the journey, especially with the pandemic and a string of natural disasters thrown in. It’s been tough navigating through all that chaos, but when we finally got to come back together, it was incredibly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like reuniting with the group, creating harmonies, and feeling that sense of community again. Despite the hardships, those moments of musical unity make it all worth it.

There are unique challenges in running a choir. It's a beautiful thing to work with a diverse range of personalities, but, naturally, those personalities will eventually clash. And in the encouragement of expressing through your voice, it's sometimes tricky to ride the balance of everyone feeling heard. 

But it’s all part of the process of making something truly special together.

The main challenge we've had has been navigating the world (or lack thereof) of funding.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my career is how crucial it is to keep the business and planning aspects from overshadowing my passion for music. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the logistics and lose sight of why I started in the first place. To stay grounded, I use meditation to remind myself where my boundaries are and to stop saying yes to everything that comes my way if it doesn't serve me. It’s about finding that balance and making sure my love for music remains at the heart of what I do.

Looking back at my career so far, it’s tough to pick just one moment I’m most proud of. There have been so many incredible experiences along the way, and I’m sure there are more to come. When I was younger, I childishly dreamed of being a “pop star”, but the journey I’ve had has been so much more enriching and fulfilling than I could have imagined. Being part of both the Brisbane and Lismore communities has been amazing, and I’m excited for the future and the new connections yet to come.

Looking ahead, we’re diving into an exciting project with the choir: recording an album! It’s been seven years since we last recorded, and producing a new body of work has been quite the challenge, but we’re determined to show off the hard work we’ve put in over the past few years. We’re fundraising to make it happen and have created original arrangements of songs by all Australian and New Zealand artists. Including an original song by me called ‘Overflow’, inspired by the devastating Lismore floods. We’re also hoping to take this new record and tour Japan. Building on the strong 40-year legacy Isabella A Cappella has. 

Even though I don’t live in Lismore full-time, I make the trip down every week. I’ve built such a strong connection with the region and truly feel like I have a second home here.

If you want to support Isabella A Capella you can donate here; https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-isabella-a-cappella-go-to-japan.

Keep a look out for the album ‘40 Years of Harmony’ coming later this year.