Junior country music students display their talents in concert

By Rebecca Belt ANOTHER crop of young country music stars in the making have graduated from the week-long school in Tamworth and are ready to make their way in the music industry. CMAA Junior Academy of Country Music general manager Roger Corbett has hailed the academy and graduation concert at Calrossy Anglican School another roaring success. “I thought the graduation concert was an amazing show – it’s one of the best junior academy shows we’ve had,” he said. “The level of talent was exceptional and the incorporation of a couple of our tutors was a very welcome addition to the show.” The intensive program for students ranging in age from nine to 17, included tutors Lyn Bowtell, Simon Johnson, Amber Lawrence and David Carter and ran from July 2 to 9 with the graduation on July 8. “The age range is just showing what a depth of talent we have in the bleachers for country music,” Mr Corbett said. “We need to look for better opportunities for our emerging country music artists. One of the noticeable things is that they’re all committed to songwriting and they’re all committing to progressing to what their version of country music looks like. “Country music looks like it is in good hands, but without opportunity it isn’t in good hands and we’re going to struggle.” He encouraged the more established country artists to consider contacting the Country Music Association of Australia to put one of the junior students on their shows. “They’re not going to be a detriment to their show and it would not hurt the established country music stars to put on a junior,” he said. “We’ve now got students dotted around the country, and without opportunity our industry will not progress.” Mr Corbett said he would love to see more people attend the graduation concerts, with the juniors being the first major event of the Hats Off to Country Festival in winter and the senior graduation concert being the first major event of the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. “I think that’s one of the best shows you could see because you have a bunch of people putting their hearts out there and putting it on the line,” he said. “It’s just beautiful.” The senior academy runs for two weeks in Tamworth in January and is calling for entries via www.academycountry music.com.au/