THEY are the future of Australian country music, and they stood proud alongside a swag of industry icons on Thursday night as they graduated from the CMAA Academy of Country Music.
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The 28 students, aged between 16 and 35, and their tutors came from all across Australia and New Zealand for the event. They converged on the country music capital for a two-week intensive school to prepare them for stardom.
Guiding them along their path was a string of Aussie icons, many of whom had also gone through the academy.
The students worked under the guidance of group leaders Catherine Britt, Lachlan Bryan, Simon Johnson and Kevin Bennett, with director Lyn Bowtell.
Bowtell was a student of the first ever academy, two decades ago.
Academy manager Roger Corbett and special guests, including Fanny Lumsden, Amber Lawrence, Stuie French, Allan Caswell and Mike Carr, were among those helping out.
On Thursday night the young artists were congratulated on their efforts and were wished well for the next phase of their careers.
The event included a slideshow and video tribute to the late Karl Broadie, along with a performance by the visiting tutors.
Country songstress Amber Lawrence and CMAA Director Dobe Newton ended the event with a spectacular finale.
It follows on from a flash mob at Tamworth’s Centrepoint Shopping Centre, which surprised and delighted shoppers on Tuesday.
