Perth Woman, Issue 35 – “A Performance of a Lifetime”

Perth’s creative jewel, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, has trained start like Hugh Jackman and Frances O’Connor. Always on the lookout for tomorrow’s stars, Perth Woman brings you the WAAPA graduates who are turning heads around the world…

Shameem – Jazz Singer

From early on Shameem begged her uncle, a piano teacher, for lessons. So at seven Shameem started her first instrument, but she didn’t stop there. At nine Shameem took up the cello and when she was 14 she taught herself to play the guitar.

Shameem was introduced to jazz on a camp with Jazz WA, and she was hooked. She was soon an Ella Fitzgerald devotee – which might explain her love for improvisation.

After high school Shameem took a GAP year to work with 12 to 15 year olds through the Baha’i community in Alice Springs. She ran a programme to empower them to make moral choices to express themselves in a positive and to be of service to their community.

Returning to Perth, Shameem auditioned for WAAPA and was accepted into the Bachelor of Music Jazz Performance course. Her teachers Bronwynn Sprogowski and Victoria Newton have really inspired her in her singing. “It has been great to work with the best in the field, network with them, and others who are similarly minded.” With their support, she has found a love for improvisation and the idea of taking it further than the average vocalist.

Shameem has had some wonderful performance opportunities. In 2008 she performed with James Morrison and the West Australian Jazz Orchestra at Perth Concert Hall.

Shameem is currently working on producing and recording her original songs, working in a Jazz R&B Funk style. She is looking forward to more opportunities to perform and record within this genre, and exploring all possibilities with her composing and arranging.

(article by Rachel McGeorge)