Mr Taylor was named the inaugural winner of the John Minson scholarship, snagging a fully funded place at the CMAA Senior Academy of Music.

“I was completely dumbfounded and it makes me feel really warm and fuzzy that musicians saw potential in me to offer me such an amazing scholarship,” he said.

The scholarship pays homage to local country music stalwart John Minson who passed away last year.

John’s son, Lawrie, played a key role picking Mr Taylor.

“I wanted to select someone from Tamworth because I see Tamworth as being a place that should create opportunities for young artists,” Mr Minson said.

“Jarred is a local boy and knows the history of the town.

“He’s a good songwriter, a good musician who plays a number of different instruments, he’s recording at the moment, investing in his career, and he’s at a point in his career where the timing is right for him to do Academy.”

Mr Taylor has been playing music since he was 15, but focused on the rock scene for many years, opening for acts including Dragon and Mental as Anything, until he began listening to country music and realised he’d been writing country songs for many years.