Trent and Mary performing in the Robbie Wlliams Show

Both of them have an impressive track record over many years in the entertainment world and while Trent, in particular, misses the theatre he agrees with Mary they have found a good balance in life and are thoroughly enjoying it.

The pair operate “Ambitions -The Art of Entertainment” where students come from as far away as Sydney and Batemans Bay to learn the art of effective singing and/or dancing, stagecraft, acting and movement.

Mary says the business has been operating for a year now and attracts many children from younger families.

She has been involved in teaching her craft for 22 years even though she didn’t start singing until she was 20 years of age.

Born at Warrawong she attended St Mary’s High School before working in a bank for nine years. When she did take up singing Mary became part of the “Sweethearts” trio which performed locally and in Sydney including times with the Belmore Basin Jazz Band.

Trent was born at Primbee and attended St Patrick’s Primary at Port Kembla and Edmund Rice College where in Year 4 he really took an interest in music.

His initial development began with The Arcadians and in amateur theatre and he describes these times as “absolutely terrific”.

Both recall the old days of performing at the Wollongong Town Hall and the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre which, says Trent, had a marvellous intimacy about it.

Working with big names  

Trent broke into the big time when he won a role in the successful stage show “Les Miserables” where he worked with world renowned artist Michael Crawford and toured the world.

Mary, who has known Trent for many years, also performed with The Arcadians and both she and Trent were tutored by the same vocal coach in Sydney who also helped shape the singing futures of Kamahl, Julie Anthony and John Farnham.

They are both quick to agree that today’s younger brigade are fans of Australian Idol and want to be professionals by the time they are in their early teens.

To help them on their way Mary spends time with their students on the correct art of vocal technique while Trent concentrates more on stagecraft, movement and microphone technique.

Their students have achieved national awards coming 1st and 2nd in the prestigious “MO Awards” and Mary was recognised for her role as Mentor to the National Winner. 

Ambitions is a very accomplished regional studio providing a high level of professional tuition in the arts. They cover the major aspects of performance such as pop, rock, musical theatre, jazz and the blues.

Trent, who now lives at Port Kembla where he loves to go surfing, is still performing and recently played a role in “Pure Robbie” which is based on the life of talented performer Robbie Williams.