Students Repping in the Real World 

This year saw our students apply what they’ve learned in class to an incredible variety of real-world events! From setting up, managing and PERFORMING on the stages of Laneway Festival at the start of 2024 to interviewing artists at the Rolling Stone Australia Awards, performing at SXSW Sydney and  BIGSOUND, plus going behind the scenes at the Victoria and Queensland Music Awards, St. Kilda Film Festival, APDG Awards and PAX Australia, our students represented at some of the country’s premiere industry events!

Celebrating Student & Alumni Success 

It’s something we get to do every year, but we couldn’t let this write up slide without mentioning some of the incredible successes that have been found by our JMC student community. It’s been incredible to watch our students, past and present excel across all areas of the creative industries, from singing on stage with Coldplay like PANIA, to tearing up the stage in ‘A Chorus Line’ like Teresa Giansiracusa or winning gold at the ACS Queensland Awards for Cinematography like Chris Shor. The wins these now industry pros have achieved has us bursting with pride. Here’s a few more awesome achievements from some of our past and present (and forever ❤️) JMC students: 

• JMC songwriting student Julia Ivory scored second place in the 2024 LACM X ICMP International Songwriting Competition (for a song she wrote as a part of her JMC assessment!).
• JMC alumni actor Kira McLennan landed the leading role of Abigail in “The Role of a Lifetime” starring alongside Kate Ritchie and Nazeem Hussain (which premieres on ABC iview in 2025!).
• Whist on the subject of acting, JMC alumni actor Fayssal Bazzi has been nominated for a 2025 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film (alongside actors including Chris Hemsworth, Damon Herriman and Hugo Weaving!).
• JMC Entertainment Business alumni Eliza Wade scored a place in the 2024 Global Scholars Program at Sony Music Group in New York City!
• JMC students Cooper Heriot, Sarah Nguyen and Jessie Hazim showcased their game ”Paraglock” at this year’s biggest indie game-design showcase down under, PAX Australia!
• JMC alumni Lexee Gordoun celebrated the launch of her own content and marketing agency, Amino Swiss! 

Upgraded Facilities and Courses for the Future 

This year we not only celebrated the now, but also looked forward to the future of the creative industries... and therefore ourselves! We celebrated the cutting edge of creativity-proofed infrastructure by getting into the groove of our new Melbourne campus (opened in 2023) and acknowledged the evolved needs of our students with new course offerings (helloooo Sydney Music Theatre and Double Degrees!).  
 
Of course, this element of our longstanding Academy is something that is forever ongoing, but it’s one of the reasons why we’re the longest standing creative industries institution in Australia! Onwards and upwards we go! 

Industry Connections and Insights 

As always, JMC has maintained its rock-solid partnerships with creative industries leaders and gathered wisdom from the very best in the (show)biz as the international creative landscape continues to change and evolve. 
 
JMC’s partnerships with industry heavyweights like Rolling Stone Australia, Roland, ADAM Audio and Wacom have created unparalleled opportunities for our students to learn in the best possible environments with the highest standard of creative tools. These connections have opened doors for internships, collaborations, and real-world experiences that set JMC graduates apart in the competitive creative industries. By working closely with global leaders, we ensure our curriculum stays relevant and that our students have access to cutting-edge resources and networks. 

Our industry connections in the live events and festivals space, such as with Laneway Festival, SXSW Sydney, BIGSOUND, and PAX Australia, have allowed our students to gain hands-on experience in event management, production, and performance. Additionally, partnerships with organizations like Music Victoria, Variety ANZ and St. Kilda Film Festival provide invaluable exposure and mentorship opportunities, helping students transition seamlessly into their careers. 

Learning from the (Absolute) Best 

This year, we welcomed incredible industry leaders to inspire and guide our students through hands-on masterclasses, including Josh Rogosin (NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts), music theatre star Chloe Zuel (Hamilton, SIX), and industry heavyweights like Tim Minchin and the cast of Heartbreak High. 

Students Paved Their Own Paths 

Our students’ capstone projects are always a highlight, and 2024 was no exception. Here are just a few of the awesome moments we had the joy of witnessing these past 365 days: 

• Our Acting students delivered outstanding grad productions and showreels.
• JMC’s Design students dazzled with their grad showcase, featuring innovative and visually stunning projects.
• Film students clinched awards at Martini Film Festivals (and beyond!), showcasing their filmmaking and storytelling prowess. 
• Animation students wowed us with boundary-pushing visuals that raised the bar for the industry, not just our academy!

A Faculty full of Stars  
 
Who could forget that our talented faculty also shone brightly this year (as they always do!). We’re taking a moment now to shout out just a few of our JMC staff’s outstanding achievements in 2024: 

• JMC Music and Entertainment Management lecturer Dan Mifsud played Coachella (!!) as the lead vocalist for the iconic Aussie techno duo, Flight Facilities. 
• JMC music and audio staff members Hayley Marsten, Melody Moko, and Dale Prinsse (in Caligula’s Horse) earned nominations in this year’s Queensland Music Awards.
• Our own Senior Lecturer Animation/Game Design (Sydney)/Artist Petr Joura, and Associate Dean Damian Gascoigne took over the stage at SXSW Sydney for their session, Avant-garde AI: Creative Ownership in the Second Wave.
• Head of Audio Engineering and Sound Production at JMC Brisbane Dan Spirovski made waves during his creative journey to the UK, presenting his first academic paper at the inaugural Society for Music Production Research conference hosted at Leeds Beckett University.
• Our JMC Melbourne Head of Acting and Music Theatre Ben Samuel continued his success on tour with his musical theater production “Parade”, playing this year at the Seymour Centre in Sydney and winning a Green Room Award! 

Empowering Diversity in the Creative Arts 

This year, we reaffirmed our commitment to fostering an inclusive and encouraging creative community for our entire JMC family. We have been proud and privileged to welcome students and staff members from all over the world and to celebrate the diverse voices and perspectives that enrich our shared creative learning journey. 
 
We are so thankful for the many incredible souls that have contributed to JMC’s development in 2024, and we’re extremely proud of what we have been able to build this year on campus and beyond. 

Looking Ahead to 2025 

As we close the chapter on 2024, the energy at JMC Academy is electric. With plans for more opportunities for student and alumni success than ever before, the year ahead promises to build on this year’s achievements.  

Thank you to our students, staff, alumni, and industry partners for making 2024 a landmark year.

Here’s to pushing creative boundaries and shaping the future of the arts in 2025!