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Inspired, the then 14-year-old penned her first song, “Angelfire.” Before her 15th birthday, Gin had written an album’s worth of songs.
She borrowed enough money to pay for only 1hour at a local recording studio, recording 12 songs, mistakes and all.
Soon after this 2002 Gins family was dealt a tragic blow, Gin's father, Peter, died of cancer.
Gin stopped her music altogether.
She joined an exchange program in Argentina in which she worked teaching 3-5 year olds at a kindergarten.
Living and working in Argentina worked its magic on Gin, and her desire to communicate through her music returned.
Back in New Zealand, Gin wrote a tribute song to her father called “Hallelujah.” Her sister, on a whim, entered Gin’s song in the US-based International Songwriting Competition.
She won both the Teen and Grand Prizes. Gin was stunned,
“I wanted to sum up what Dad meant in my life, to say all the things I’d never been able to say to him. I never thought anyone outside my family would hear it.”
Gin was the youngest and only unsigned Grand Prize winner in the history of the competition.
As part of the ISC prize, Gin was awarded a trip to the US, and a semester of study at one of the world’s top music institutions, Berklee College of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Gin now lives in Sydney, Australia with her puppy Duke. Continuing to play and write her music.
Be sure to check out her myspace page: www.myspace.com/ginwigmore and listen to her fantastic music:-)
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