Simone Waddell

Simone Waddell (born 16 December 1975) is an Australian jazz singer, songwriter, vocal coach, and advocate for justice. She is the founder, lead vocal coach, and workshop facilitator of You Have a Voice. Waddell is known for her fusion of jazz with other genres and has performed in several countries.

Early life and education Waddell was born on 16 December 1975, in Sydney, Australia, to Graham and Ellie Waddell. Her mother was a trained secretary, and her father, a printer, was also a church pianist, which influenced her early musical interests. Her paternal grandfather was Scottish born in Glasgow, while her maternal ancestry is rooted in Australia. She is a 5th generation Australian.

In pursuit of a career in music after completing her early education, she became the first Australian recipient of a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1995.

She was invited to perform for Berklee's dean, Warwick Carter, during his visit to the Southern Cross University Music Department in 1995.

At Berklee, she studied under instructors, including Dennis Montgomery and Maggi Scott. She received a bachelor of arts in contemporary music in 1997 from Southern Cross University which combined her Australian and American studies. Later, Waddell completed her master of music (Performance) degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2018. Her master's research focused on the Australian singer Kerrie Biddell, who has been Waddell's personal mentor.

In 2017, Waddell won an academic grant from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and presented her research at the Auckland University for the 40th Australian and New Zealand Musicological Society Conference.

She also holds several certifications, including trauma healing, mindfulness, and life coaching.

Waddell co-authored a book, The Attitude of Gratitude, published in 2020.

Later in 2021, Waddell led a two-day musical masterclass for students at Trinity Anglican College, described by The Border Mail as "absolutely brilliant".

In 2022, Waddell released the album The Art of Collaboration with Ambition Music.

In November 2023, Waddell was featured on the cover of Fine Music Magazine.

In 2024, she commenced a partnership and representation with First Artists and Robert Rigby to create her live theatre shows, The Great Ladies of Jazz and Unforgettable.

Released: 1996 Label: Simone Waddell

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Extended plays + List of EPs, with selected details Title Details Only a Mother Could Released: 2010 Label: New Day Released: 2017 Label: Simone Waddell Keeping My Peace On Released: 2018 Label: Simone Waddell