Our Old Boys have such diverse career paths; we are so proud of the good young men they become and how they make meaningful contributions to their communities. Stuart St Vincent Welch describes himself as an average student who had no idea what he wanted to do after school. But drawing on the TGS values of hard work, respect and resilience he is now working as a Sound Engineer for Barking Owl in New York City, rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s most renowned musicians and actors. He kindly took some time from his busy schedule for a quick Q&A…
- What is your favourite memory from your time at school - I do think the friends you make at school are your lifelong mates even if you’re too young to realise it at the time.
- How did your time at TGS help you with your career - I really had no idea what I wanted to do after school or what my career would look like. I did a broad range of classes that really didn't steer me towards any particular career path, but gave me a grounding in a variety of subjects and skills. I did learn guitar at TGS and I am still as bad as I was at School.
- How did you become interested in this work and what led to your employment with Barking Owl - I've always loved music and film and I come from a musical family with a strong love of music. Though I didn't really acknowledge it at the time, it was obviously instrumental in forming my interest and skills in this area.
- What’s some of the highlights of your career - I’m still very much on the smaller end of the American industry but in 2022 I completed the sound design and mix for the Pepsi Superbowl trailer with Dr Dre, Snoop and Kendrick Lamar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ2MbmrxVzg.
I have recorded dialogue for feature films such as A Quiet Place 2, DC Super Pets, Under the Skin and Disney’s Jungle Cruise. I've had a song placed on the official Sing 2 soundtrack, as well as mixing Flume's first official documentary. I also get to work alongside notable composers such as Grammy and Oscar-winner Atticus Ross, who works for Barking Owl.
- Did you ever dream you would have these connections or opportunities
- I’m not sure I ever expected to end up in NYC, it's a long way from Toowoomba. I’m lucky that my career has taken me to London and to New York City and each time you just climb a tiny bit further up the ladder. It has a lot to do with luck, the ability to hang in there when the going gets tough and trying to be the last person standing in a really competitive industry. I believe that coming from a small town like Toowoomba does give you the drive to get out there and see the world more so than if you were brought up in a bigger city with everything on your doorstep.
- What’s some of the values that you learnt at TGS that have helped shape you and helped in your life - I enjoyed the social and sport elements of School and staff always encouraged us to get involved in, and experience, a range of activities. Even though I didn’t engage in the Drama or Music programs, I do remember some of the School performances and I believe they opened my eyes to those different aspects of the Arts.
- What’s your advice to current TGS students - I do think working out what you want to do after school is important but there are multiple pathways to success and what you want to achieve. My parents had some unnecessary stress about me finishing school and having no idea what I wanted to do. I would really suggest just trying to work towards getting into university for anything. Even though I didn't get the grades for university and went to the School of Audio Engineering (SAE), I lived on the UQ campus and loved the college lifestyle and the people I met.
College life is a lot of fun!! As cliché as it sounds, you’ll look back on those memories as some of the best years of your life. My advice is to sit down with the Careers Advisor early and have an honest conversation about what you want to achieve after school. If anyone needs advice on how to get into this industry, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.
When you’re at School it seems big and overwhelming, but it really is just such a small blip in your life so try and enjoy it. Seeing the world when you are younger really is a lifechanging experience.
Latest Blog
Filmmaker, Storyteller and Visionary
From his days as a boarding student at Toowoomba Grammar School, where he first dipped his toes into the world of filming GPS sporting events, to his current roles as sports documentarian and founder of the Outback Film Club, Clancy’s journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Establishing Outback Film Club has been a real triumph The echoes of school war cries reverberating around the Chandler Aquatic Centre in 2011 marked the start of Clancy’s cinematic journey.…
A Cut Shot Above The Rest
Ben’s sport takes him to the best beaches on the planet, but his love of volleyball began back at Toowoomba Grammar School, inspired after seeing his older brother play. As Ben explains, he was hooked:
Gummingurru Excursion - Deep Time History of Australia on our Doorstep
Gummingurru is unique in being the best-preserved initiation site in southeast Queensland, including bora rings and various stone arrangements that have ancient links to the totems and kinship practices of the Jarowair and Giabal people of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, as well as the broader region within the highly significant cultural landscape of the Bunya Mountains. The boys were welcomed to, and guided through, the site and its learning centre by Mr Shannon Bauwens, a Western Wakka…
Responding to Negative Peer Interactions
As we approach the end of Term 3, we find it is typically a time when boys start to get tired and emotional and are most likely to make poor decisions that can lead to relationship challenges between peers. Comments and humour shared between mates that may have been received without concern in the first week of the term may change as boys start to tire and their tolerance levels decrease. This may lead to boys reacting with heightened and overly emotional responses. This is normal as boys are…
Boarding is who we are
Our boarders make up nearly one third of our student cohort from Years 5 to 12, which enables us to consider the boarding experience in all that we do at the School. Every boarding experience at TGS is about equipping boys with the skills to function as a student and preparing them for their future.
Making a Positive Impact with Homework Assistance
The Anglicare Homework Assistance Program (HAP), run in conjunction with Darling Heights State School, sees many of our boys volunteer their time on Wednesdays after class to help many young refugee and primary school students facing challenging times with their homework, or to chat and play games. Our boys thoroughly enjoy meeting, supporting and learning about the lives of the younger children. This forges community connections and fosters inclusion for the Darling Heights students; it also…
Fresh Faces Guide - TGS Sportsmen into the Fray
With their dedication to excellence and player development, TGS athletes are in good hands as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of competitive sports.
Honouring Tradition, Preparing for the Future
They will invariably be inspired by effective teaching and the satisfaction of personal achievement will always be motivating. At Toowoomba Grammar School, the power of high-quality instructional practices has resulted in the development of a strong academic culture that has endured for nearly 150 years. Preserving core principles provides stability and continuity. However, we must be open to continuously adapting our methods so that our students are well-prepared for the ever-changing world…
We See You - Mitchell Wilkes
That was the heart-wrenching diagnosis for Year 10 student, Mitchell Wilkes, right on Christmas in 2021. Mitchell’s mum noticed he wasn’t reading properly and had a gut feeling that there was something wrong with his eyesight. A trip to the optometrist revealed a thinning in the retina, and further tests showed that Mitchell had a genetic condition called Stargardt Disease, a juvenile macular degeneration illness that results in slow central vision loss.
