2015 was a year in the spotlight for singer-songwriter and Head Girl Zoe Lapwood who showed real promise for a career in the music industry.
The 17-year-old placed as a finalist in the Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition for her original composition, You’re Around, which featured on the 2015 Play it Strange CD. This was the third year in a row that Lapwood’s music feature on the CD.
Lapwood’s continued success in the songwriting competition opened many doors for her to collaborate with well-known industry names. In 2015 she performed in a Rolling Stones tribute concert, A Strange Days Night, with The De Sotos and in 2014 was a backup singer in a Beatles tribute concert at the Auckland Town Hall with Mike Chunn, former member of the band Split Enz.
Lapwood’s talent and well-rounded ability in academics, sport and leadership caught the attention of the University of Waikato. She was offered a Hillary Scholarship valued at $50,000 to study accounting and to continue with her love of music composition.
She was also one of four students (of 200 applicants) offered a KPMG internship valued at $70,000. The internship includes working with the accounting firm in a paid entry level position while studying her undergraduate degree as well as one of the firm’s partners acting as a mentor.
