By Kyra Gillespie
Young performer Tayla Bennett-Hullin’s personal connection with a devastating disease has motivated her to use her talents to help others.
Tayla has lived in Berwick for the last 20 years, attended the local Haileybury College and is a regular busker at Akoohna Park on a Sunday morning, selling her CDs.
Locals might have seen Tayla at Ambrosia’s restaurant for the lunchtime crowd on a Sunday or entertaining at private functions and weddings around the area.
Growing up Tayla has always been close to her family, especially her grandfather who has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for 10 years now.
“He lives in Geelong, so he doesn’t really get to hear me sing anymore,” Tayla said.
“I just find seeing him so sad and really want to raise as much awareness as possible as I believe there is always hope.”
Tayla has decided that every performance she now does, she will donate a percentage of her income to Parkinson’s Australia.
The young artist is also attending university and is completing her Master’s in Speech Pathology, having already attained a Bachelor of Applied Sciences.
Her dream is to use her speech pathology degree to treat vocalists and to combine this with her vocal coaching to provide a safe and rounded vocal tuition which includes vocal health, the unique David Jaanz philosophy of emotive singing as well as understanding correct technique.
She has been attending Jaanz International Singing Academy in South Melbourne with the master coach David Jaanz for the last four years.
Jaanz has been a big part of her life and has helped her build her confidence, as well as develop her voice and her ability to create music that she is proud of.
“I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without Jaanz,” Tayla said.
She is grateful to have been offered the opportunity to open Jaanz International Singing Academy’s Berwick Studio late last year.
Tayla loves songwriting and usually spends her time writing with her piano.
She has been recently in the studio recording and producing her own original songs.
She has released her own single, Playing Chasey, which can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Triple J Unearthed or other music platforms.
