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The annual Macarthur Country Music Festival was held at Sweeneys over the weekend of the 28/29th June, and was the biggest ever with competitors from all over the State including; Dubbo, Orange and Bombala.

 Competition is always at a very high level in the Macarthur area, (4 juniors at Camerata this year and the weekend was no exception with over $3,000.00 in cash and prizes being awarded.

 Christie Lamb, who attends Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, and Cheyne Mastop, of Macquarie Fields, were crowned junior and senior overall winners respectively at the fourth annual Macarthur Country Music Awards.

Both Christie and Cheyne won semi- acoustic guitars, provided by R&B Music at Tahmoor, and while their duet didn't see them place, both won solo sections.

Christie, 16, entered the awards for the 'fun of it' and said she almost spat out her drink when announced as junior winner. Christie said the winner's concert, which saw her and Cheyne perform with Travis Collins and Whiskey Train, was 'an experience in itself because they're such high class musicians'

She became interested in country music when she sang the Dixie Chicks 'Let 'Er Rip' at an eisteddfod, Christie is also looking forward to getting her year 11 exams and assignments out of the way before she leaves for the Tamworth Camerata this Friday

 All contestants were supported by Travis Collins and Whiskey Train. A concert was also held on Saturday night with Travis Collins

 Courtesy: Campbelltown/Macarthur Advertiser & Tracy Lamb

This 17 yr old singer/songwriter from Mt Annan returned home from the Queensland Northern Suburbs Country Music Festival after being awarded seven 1^st places for Senior Female, Australian Composition, Senior Country Rock, Senior Female Country Gospel, Senior Female Country Vocal and Open Modern Popular and is showing she is certainly on fire and continuing to shine in the Country Music Industry.

Other sections of merit were the Country Duo Section and the Open Country Original Composition. Teaming up with Queenslands Keyonnie Bolton in the Duo saw them awarded 1^st place for the amazing rendition of 'Leave the Pieces'

"Not My Time to Fly" a self-penned song inspired by a visit to Ronald McDonald House a few weeks ago, was awarded with a 2^nd place, great encouragement for this young lady who has only been composing for just on 12 months.

Topping off what was already a fantastic foray into Senior competition for the first time, was the announcement as the recipient of the 'Overall Senior Champion' This latest win now gives Tori entry into the Queensland 'Champion of Champions' Competition which will be held in Queensland in November.

Tori says she loves competing in Queensland Festivals as she has made so many wonderful friends and Queensland has become her 'home away from home'.

'It is a great ambiance and we all get on so well even though we are competing against each other, we are all there to support and encourage each other as well".

Tori continues to fulfil her dreams as she head off to Tamworth on the 4^th July to attend the Camerata College Of Country Music after receiving not 1 but 2 Scholarships courtesy of the St. Arnaud Country Music Club in Victoria, and her 2^nd Scholarship came after Tori won the Overall highest point score at the CCMA Quest held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. Continuing on from the college Tori will remain in Tamworth for the CCMA 'Hats Off' competition held on the 11/12^th July.

Further information is available via the website: www.toridarke.com or 0414871944

CLASS OF TAMWORTH CAMERATA: 2008  (pics coming soon!!)

EMMA BARLOW, 18, Gympie Qld – successful individual applicant

COHAN BREW, 16, Palmview Qld – Peel Valley Lions Club Scholarship

STEPHANIE BROWNLEE, 15, Sunrise Beach Qld – Dairy Farmers Scholarship

YULIANA PASCOE, 14, Karama NT – successful individual applicant

MELODY POOL, 17, Kurri Kurri NSW – successful individual applicant

MEGAN PULS, 17, Milawa Vic – successful individual applicant

DALY STEPHENSON, 14, Comet Qld – Australian Bush Balladeers Association scholarship

NATHAN WILLIAMS, 16, Everton Park Qld – successful individual applicant

DANA HASSALL, 16, Oakey Qld – successful individual applicant

CHRISTIE LAMB, 16, Kirkham NSW – Tamworth Songwriters Association scholarship

PAIGE JEFFREY, 17, Casula NSW – Tamworth Regional Council CCMA Winter Jnr TQ scholarship

NATHAN LAMONT, 15, Wagga Wagga NSW – Tamworth Reg Council CCMA Jamboree scholarship

JAMES JOHNSTON, 17, Cedar Party Creek NSW – Ross & Robyn Scholarship

RHEANNA LESCHKE, 18, Glamorgan Vale Qld – Queensland Champion of Champions scholarship

TAYLOR CAIRNS, 17, Gore NZ – successful individual applicant

KRISTAL COLLINS, 18, l Mount Compass SA SACCM Cindy Shelton Memorial scholarship

DANIEL COSGROVE, 17, Hamilton NZ – Best of The West Country Music Festival scholarship

TORI DARKE, 17, Mt Annan NSW – St Arnaud’s Hoedown scholarship

BREE DEROME, –14, Oxenford Qld – successful individual applicant

JESSIE FAIRWEATHER, 17, Cobbitty NSW – Axiom Entertainment’s Jazzer Quest scholarship

 
TAMWORTH CAMERATA: A TOUCH OF CLASS

Camerata students making their mark in the big league

Now in its seventh year, Tamworth Camerata is becoming widely known as the yardstick by which most young country music performers measure up. This claim was reinforced at the 2008 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, when graduates KIRSTY LEE AKERS and AMOS MORRIS took home the ultimate accolade – the Golden Guitar. Kirsty won New Talent of the Year and Amos became the youngest person ever to win Bush Ballad of the Year.

Upon the completion of the 2008 course 124 students from all over Australia and New Zealand will have graduated from this Country Music Capital initiative.

Camerata was dreamed up by Tamworth based musician/producer GREG WILLIAMS in conjunction with hotelier/artist manager JOAN DOUGLAS. Students aged 18 years or younger attend an intensive six-day, live-in course, covering a wide range of music-related topics designed to assist them with their career. Sponsorship is sourced from local business houses and scholarships are offered from further afield to assist with the cost of getting these talented youngsters to Tamworth.

UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPONSOR AND STUDENT

The way Camerata has been devised is unique in that each student has a sponsor and/ or scholarship provider. That individual or organisation is then in the enviable position of knowing their contribution has assisted a fledgling career.

Imagine how proud Kirsty Lee Akers and Amos Morris’s sponsors would have been on awards night, knowing they had a hand in getting those careers off the ground!

Several sponsors have been involved with Camerata since the beginning. The first business to sponsor a student, MR Services, a Tamworth air-conditioning specialist, remains a sponsor to this day.

 Other sponsors and scholarship awarders are: The Pub Group, Westside Butchery, Cheapa Music, Nectar Body Care, Country Energy, Century 21, West Tamworth League Club, Wests’ Diggers, The Big Golden Guitar Tourist Complex, Edwards Printing, Central Hotel, Coca Cola, Fender Australia, Capital News, Toyota Star Maker, The Northern Daily Leader, Plush Hair Design, Sue Keating, Ross and Robyne Johnson, Queensland Champion of Champions, Walkamin CM Festival, St Arnauds Hoedown, Dairy Farmers, Tamworth Songwriters Association, NZ Best of The West Festival, Australian Bush Balladeers Association, Axiom Entertainment, Peel Valley Lions Club, SA Council for Country Music and Tamworth Regional Council.

 WHAT CAN STUDENTS EXPECT?

Once they arrive, students are taught by experts in subjects such as singing, songwriting, entertaining and instrument playing and maintenance. Grooming and appearance are also incorporated, as is dealing with media/interview situations and a series of master classes covering a range of instruments and skills.

Each student is accompanied by a parent/ guardian, as Camerata is also a learning experience for parents. Selected sessions are designed specifically for parents and are facilitated by JIM HAYNES.

 Students are led in their studies by multi-instrumentalist BRAD BERGEN, a tutor of four years’ standing, and Golden Guitar winners CARTER & CARTER – Merelyn and David. Past group leaders have included LYN BOWTELL, KEDRON TAYLOR, MARK MOULYNOX, DONELLA WATERS, BRETT DALLAS and NICKI GILLIS. Musicianship is a key component of the Camerata curriculum and only the best musicians are sought out for this mentoring role. This year’s Camerata musicians are IAN LEES (bass), GLENN WILSON (drums and percussion), ROD MOTBEY (guitars), MARK MOULYNOX (pedal steel, dobro, banjo and guitar) and HUGH CURTIS (fiddle and mandolin).

 Among those musicians who have contributed in previous years are DOUG GALLACHER, TREV WARNER, CLARE O’MEARA, MICHEL ROSE, STUIE FRENCH and GLEN HANNAH.

 Songwriting is always a major part of the Camerata experience and instructing students in this area once again is singer-songwriter and musician ROGER CORBETT. Roger has also taught senior students at the CMAA Australian College of Country Music.

Tutors and guest speakers previously have included BECCY COLE, NASH CHAMBERS, GINA JEFFREYS, BRIAN HOWARD, ADAM HARVEY, DOBE NEWTON, REX DALLAS, TAMARA STEWART, TOM MAXWELL, FELICITY URQUHART, KEVIN ANDERSON, LINDSAY BUTLER, TRAVIS COLLINS, SHAZA LEIGH, BRIAN YOUNG and all TOYOTA STAR MAKER winners since 2002.

 AVERAGE AGE IS 16

The average age of students in Tamworth Camerata 2008 is 16, although individual applicants range in age from 14 to 18. Due to wonderful support from the country music industry and beyond, 10 Camerata scholarships were awarded before individual applicants were selected. As a further display of interest and support, at least three more scholarships will be awarded to successful individual applicants.

 WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

An interesting mix of places of origin – New South Wales 7, Northern Territory 1, Queensland 9, South Australia 1, Victoria 1, New Zealand 2.

 A PROVEN TRACK RECORD

There’s little doubt the standard of applicants is extremely high, so choosing the successful students is a difficult task indeed for the Camerata selection panel. “Every year Camerata graduates and students continue to set a very high standard, and I’m really looking forward to the 2008 course,” Camerata co-founder Greg Williams said.” One thing is for sure. These young achievers will all have a unique learning experience. One thing that’s especially pleasing for us, seven years on from our first Camerata, is we are seeing excellent results, with many graduates establishing a musical career, and some are now achieving major success in the industry.” Underwritten from inception by The Pub Group, Tamworth Camerata continues to gather support from numerous scholarship awarders, local and national business sponsors, who “adopt” a student and follow their progress during and after Camerata. This support is an important factor in Camerata’s existence, and further ongoing financial support is always being sought, and very welcome.

 GRADUATION NIGHT

Tamworth Camerata 2008 runs from July 5-10, culminating in a gala finale concert at West Tamworth League Club’s Blazes auditorium on Thursday, July 10. This is where the general public and industry alike will have the chance to enjoy the impressive talent of all graduates. Concert tickets are available from Wests, phone (02) 6765 7588.

 WHAT’S NEXT?

Many Camerata students stay on in the Country Music Capital and enter the very popular CCMA Junior Winter Talent Quest, which is held the weekend immediately following Camerata. During the annual January Country Music Festival in Tamworth, a graduates’ reunion concert is staged as a fundraiser for the next year’s Camerata.

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CAMERATA?

Visit the Camerata website

http://www.tamworthcamerata.com

where applications are downloadable or phone the Tamworth Camerata office on (02) 6765 4875.

TAMWORTH CAMERATA follows on this year from the mid-year HATS OFF TO COUNTRY. For enquiries contact Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300 or www.tamworthtourism.com.au

Tiffney Stroh revealed another side to this versatile young South Australian artist when she permiered her new band 'GoldRush' at the South Australian Country Music Festival in Barmera over the June long weekend.

Performing before a packed house of over 400 at the Barmera Hotel, Tiffney and her band of talented musicians took to the stage and presented one of the most exciting and entertaining shows of the Festival.

'Having my own band has always been a dream and after so many hours spent in rehearsals, Saturdays' show was fantastic!. The audience was great and a big thank you to Bronny & Sam, the Proprietors and to the audience for your support!'

Featuring a repertoire including songs from the 30s' right through to modern day, 'GoldRush' comprising Tiffney on guitar & lead vocals, Josh Verco on bass, Ricky Poole on lead guitar, Olaf Stroh on harmonica and the fantastic harmonies of Candy Latham proved that young talent is alive and kicking in SA. Stepping in at the last minute, Simon Wegener on drums added his unique sound for what was an amazing five hours of entertainment.

Sunday afternoon added yet another dimension of her versatility with the premiere of Tiffney performing an 'up close & personal' show accompanied by Josh & Candy. Again with harmonies, guitar & bass, this exciting trio kept the audience riveted to their seats until rain forced them indoors.

The coming months will be busy for Tiffney as she prepares to release her first commercial CD, complete both Year 11 & 12 and continue rehearsing and performing with 'GoldRush'.

Currently the South Australian Senior Champion, 2008 Australian Country Music Association College of Country Music Graduate, 3 time Camerata Graduate as well as the recipient of many awards throughout Australia for performance and songwriting, this young lady is definitely heading to what will be an amazing journey as she heads to the top of her profession.

Tiffney Stroh & 'GoldRush' will be performing at the Mt Barker Town Hall on June 21st with guest artists: Graeme Hugo, Dave Verrall, Kristal Collins & Chooka Williams.

Further information, bookings and general enquiries on this and other shows, is available via her website (www.tiffney.com.au) or by contacting 0428 968 213.

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