YoWo Music was founded by Melbourne musicians Lena Douglas and Claire Cross in 2015, to empower young women to pursue a career in music.

Both Lena and Claire studied jazz and contemporary music at university, and were in the minority as female instrumentalists in their courses. Gender imbalance is prevalent throughout all areas of the music industry, and they felt inspired to make a positive change!

They observed that it is usually somewhere between childhood and university that girls give up playing instruments. So they created the YoWo Music Band Program, a program that supported and inspired young women in high school to continue playing music.

YoWo Music has built a community of local musicians, teachers, parents and music industry who have all been working towards closing the gender gap in music. Over 9 years, YoWo Band Program has formed 66 bands, released 5 sound recordings, and has seen alumnae get accepted into tertiary music courses and form their own bands.

In 2021, Sarah Rafferty came on as CEO and took over the operations of YoWo Music, supported by Program Manager, Selene Messinis. Under the guidance of Sarah and Selene, YoWo began a new era of growth as a registered charity.

A Memorial Timeline

Notable Achievements:

• YoWo participants and alumnae have performed at festivals such as Leaps and Bounds Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Boogie, BigSound, and Queenscliff Music Festival

• Over 100 original songs written by participants in the YoWo band program

• YoWo has launched a youth record label ‘YoWo Records’ in 2023

• YoWo has released 5 x sound recordings over 9 years

• 33 original songs recorded and released on YoWo Records

• YoWo has built up a YoWo Club community of almost 80 members

• YoWo has worked with over 40 mentors, hosted 16 guest artist masterclasses, facilitated 32 workshops and gave 30+ performance opportunities to young musicians.

• 305 enrolments in 66 bands have participated in the band program over 9 years.

2015

• YoWo Music is founded in April by musicians Lena Douglas, Claire Cross and Jordan White

• YoWo Music Band Program begins in Semester 1 with 11 participants in two bands, mentored by Claire and Lena

• ‘Young Women’s Music Incorporated’ becomes established as an incorporated association in September

• YoWo band program continues in Semester 2, with a total of 29 participants and 5 bands
  
  

2016

• YoWo Music releases a self-funded EP ‘YoWo Music’, after receiving a generous donation from the Brusch family

• YoWo band performs at Peel Street Block Party

• The program changes from a 12-week term structure to a 14-week semester structure

• The band program has a total of 28 participants and 8 bands for the year
  
  

2017

• YoWo band performs at Foundation for Young Australians Unleashed Awards Ceremony

• Co-founder Jordan White moves overseas and resigns from YoWo Music

• The band program has a total of 26 participants in 5 bands for the year
  
  

2018

• YoWo Music receives funding from Creative Victoria and Australia Council to record and release debut album

• YoWo Music records debut album ‘Work Like That’ @ Rolling Stock Recording Rooms

• YoWo Music releases debut album 'Work Like That’

• YoWo Music band Killer Lilies released the "Built for Boys" single video as part of the album campaign

• The band program has a total of 19 participants and 4 bands for the year
  
  

2019

• YoWo Music band performs at The Village Festival

• YoWo Music receives an APRA Project grant

• After media attention from the 2018 album publicity campaign, YoWo enrolments grow 183%, with a total of 43 participants and 9 bands over 2 semesters
  
  

2020

• YoWo Music becomes a successful recipient of Creative Partnerships Australia's MatchLab program

• YoWo Music raises over $13,000 in the 'Let's Get Louder' fundraising event and campaign in March

• YoWo Music receives an APRA Project grant

• YoWo receives the highest number of enrolments in one semester, with 28 participants in 6 bands

• Semester 1 is disrupted by COVID lockdowns and moves to online

• YoWo participants and alumnae perform at Leaps and Bounds, City of Yarra online festival

• Semester 2 does not proceed due to COVID lockdowns
  
  

2021

• Semester 1 does not proceed due to COVID lockdowns

• YoWo Music becomes a successful recipient of Creative Victoria's 2-year VicArts funding

• Sarah Rafferty is appointed General Manager in July, and the first paid employee of YoWo Music

• Grace Robinson becomes YoWo's first alumna to mentor

• Semester 2 has 24 participants in 5 bands; however, the program is eventually cancelled due to COVID lockdowns

• Lena Douglas and Claire Cross resign from their operational roles
  

2022

• Selene Messinis is appointed Program Manager in January

• YoWo becomes a registered ACNC charity

• YoWo formalises partnership with Collarts

• YoWo Music hosts a 'Reborn Party’ event in May to introduce the new management team and farewell YoWo founders Claire and Lena

• YoWo Band Program incorporates weekly 30min blast workshops on musical/business skills

• YoWo Music is offered a monthly slot at Pinko Collective’s ongoing residency at Bar 303

• YoWo Music becomes a successful recipient of VicHealth's JumpStart! Funding

• YoWo Music becomes a successful recipient of a UNIFIED Grant

• YoWo Music bands perform on Bandwagon stage at The Push Music Career Expo in June

• YoWo LIVE Vol. 1 is recorded @ Always Live’s ’SoundBox’ studio in December

• YoWo hosts 2 x end of semester showcase gigs (June/November)

• The band program has a total of 45 participants in 10 bands for the year
  

2023

• YoWo Club is launched with party/Open Mic Event in February

• 3 x Open Mic Events throughout the year @ Cross St Music Hall

• YoWo programs a Bandwagon event lineup of YoWo participant and alumnae bands

• YoWo Music receives Australia Council Project Grant and ‘YoWo Records’ is launched in May

• YoWo LIVE Vol. 1 is released with Launch party event in May

• YoWo LIVE Vol. 2 is recorded @ Collarts in May

• YoWo LIVE Vol. 3 is recorded @ Collarts in November

• YoWo alumna Saskia Robin wins recording time at Always Live’s ‘SoundBox’ studio in November

• YoWo LIVE Vol. 2 is released with Launch party event in December

• YoWo hosts 4 x end of semester showcase gigs across the year (2 x June/2x November)

• The band program has a total of 63 enrolments and 14 bands for the year
  
  

2024

• YoWo LIVE Vol. 3 is digitally released in Aug

• YoWo Music ceases operations on Aug 31st 2024.
  

A heartfelt thank you to all the powerhouse artists/mentors YoWo has had the pleasure of working with over the years:

Ainslie Wills
Al Parkinson
Alex Mraz
Alex Roper
Allison Walker
Anaïs Lobmeyer
Angie McMahon
Anna Laverty
Annabelle Tunley
Bianca Kyriacou
Claire Cross
Claire Dunning
Charlie Woods
Cheryl Durongpisitkul
Eilish Gilligan
Ella Hooper
Ella Thompson
Elliot Lamb
Emah Fox
Erica Tucceri
Francesca Gonzales
Georgie Darvidis
Georgina Bendall
Grace Robinson
Holly Moore
Holly Thomas
Indigo King
Isobel Caldwell
Jackie Hempshall
Jem Savage
Jenny Barnes
Jess Maio
Jo Syme
Jude Perl
Kaitlin Keegan
Katie Wighton
Kimbra
Laura Baxter
Lena Douglas
Lisa Mitchell
Liv Hally
Loz Irwin-Ray
Maddy Petch
Madison Foley
Maggie Rigby
Mel Taylor
Merpire
Miriam Crelliin
Myles Mumford
Nat Bartsch
Nat Grant
Nat Vazer
Nkechi Anele
Nitida Atkinson
Phoebe Gunson
Rhiannon Gilmore
Ruby Jones
Selene Messinis
Shanna Watson
Shannon Barnett
Stella Anning
Steph Caccamo
Tamara Murphy
Theofano Tsentikopoulou
Tiaryn Griggs
thndo
Woodes
Xani Kolac
Zoë Frater