Connections

A gifted guitarist and Avondale College graduate now has another award to add to his growing collection, that of Young Alumni of the Year.

Influenced by Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, with whom he has played, Dale Willis has developed a technique combining the percussive elements of slap bass notes with the thumb and rhythm and melody with the fingers. In 2004, it earned him the title, Australian Fingerstyle Champion. He also released his first of two solo albums. The title track, "Scatterfingers," won Best Instrumental Song in the USA Songwriting Competition. It would also win an Australian Dolphin Music Award for best instrumental a year later.

Dale graduated from Avondale in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and music performance. He helped design and build the college's 32-track digital recording studio, in which he has produced or engineered a dozen albums. The Seventh-day Adventist Church?s Adventist Media Network has now contracted him to upgrade its audio recording facilities and to produce radio programs.

During his acceptance speech, Dale shared four ?P? words that have shaped his ?post-Avondale experience.? Of the first, professionalism, he said, "You don't have to be the best, as long as you know you're doing your best." He recounted his loss at the 2003 fingerstyle championships to illustrate the second, persistence. "Three months before the 2004 competition, I started a diligent and rigorous regime of practice, sometimes up to 12 hours a day, to make sure I could compete." His third, perserverance, came from a misunderstanding with Homeland Security in the United States?the department accused Dale of working illegally after he volunteered to perform at a benefit concert for victims of Hurrican Katrina. Barred from the country, he returned to Canada, where he met industry contacts who helped establish his musical career and his wife. "The experience taught me there is always good in any situation." A mentor provided the fourth, perspective. "He said if you want to make great music, look for a balance in everything you do."

The president of the Avondale College Alumni Association, Pastor Roger Nixon, presented the award to Dale at forum this past week (May 21). Earlier, he challenged final-year students to "engage in life." "Avondale is holding you in its cocoon," he said, "but eventually you must spread your wings and fly and do."

Avondale College president Dr John Cox and graduation coordinator Rosalie Rickards also announced Steve Platt as the graduation class co-president for the Lake Macquarie campus. Carissa Amos is the co-president for the Sydney campus.