| Sweethearts | |
| Full Name: | The Sweethearts Foundation Inc. |
| Headquarters: | Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College |
| Leader Title: | Music Director |
| Leader Title2: | Founder |
| Leader Name2: | Ross Lipson |
| Website: | http://sweethearts.com.au |
Sweethearts is a school music group founded in Geelong, Australia in 1989 who play new soul – a fusion of styles based around classic soul and Motown.[1] [2] They have an international following and have played concerts at several large music festivals.[3]
The Sweethearts began at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College under the direction of Ross Lipson, initially as a social band for teachers and students in Years 10-12 of high school. Lipson was a science and instrumental teacher at the school, who with colleagues from the music department, decided to form a group to play jazz standards and soul music. Word of mouth spread and they began to book gigs.
The Sweethearts Foundation was formed in 2000 as a not-for-profit organisation to support the Sweethearts program and band.[4] In 2005, Lipson and his colleague Rick McLean transformed the group into a two-year Certificate IV course in music after being given professional development time by the Education Department. It was said to be the highest industry-based qualification offered by any Australian school in 2013. A separate Sweethearts Music Academy was formed in 2012 to provide mentoring and training for musicians aged 8-13.
Sweethearts were the subject of a 2013 multi-part documentary Heart and Soul on the Australian ABC3 television network. Filmed over almost two years, the documentary followed the girls touring internationally while managing their school work.[5] [6] A second series of Heart and Soul featuring The Sweethearts was produced in 2015 and was nominated for a 2015 International Kid’s Emmy.[7]
The group have performed at the Queenscliff Music Festival, Porretta Soul Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Jazz à Vienne,[8] and have had air play on Australia's national radio network Triple J with their song "Secret".[9]
The Sweethearts Foundation also founded Sweetfest, a musical festival held in Geelong celebrating female musicians. The free annual festival began in 2018 and returned in 2022 after not being held for two years.[10] [11]
In 2014 Lipson died of cancer.[12] The Sweethearts Foundation and Queenscliff Music Festival founded the Ross Lipson Award in his honour to recognise excellence in local female musicians.[13] [14] The current music director is Michael Fitzgerald.