Gulgong’s Joel Cummins will join aspiring artists from all over Australia at the 2018 Senior Academy of Country Music in Tamworth for two weeks before the annual Festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Joel has performed throughout the region and beyond as the lead guitarist and also singer in a bluegrass/country style band Free Fried Chicken.
He started playing the guitar at the age of six and in the early days was self-taught. Now at 17 years of age Joel demonstrates unique skill on the guitar and has a solo career in his sites, looking forward to a future in the country music industry.
The CMAA Senior Academy of Country Music course began in 1997 and has seen the likes of Lyn Bowtell, Brooke McClymont, Adam Eckersley, Travis Collins, Ashleigh Dallas, and Judah Kelly graduate.
Of the 29 students, 17 are female and 12 male, with 11 from NSW, 11 Queenslanders, two Victorians, three will head to Australia from New Zealand, and one from India – a first for the academy.
Joel will be one of the five students in the instrumental course, 24 students are in the singer-songwriter course.
READ MORE
Academy director Lyn Bowtell said, “the students will undertake the world-class intensive music and business course in January under the guidance of some of the best artists in the country for two weeks in Tamworth”.
“They can expect to work hard, but grow as artists and people over those two weeks and the changes we see in them is incredible. The course gives them the chance to learn all they can about the music industry and form lifelong bonds with other aspiring singers and songwriters and award-winning artists.”
Tutors include Ashleigh Dallas, Kevin Bennett, Lachlan Bryan, Simon Johnson, and assistant Liam Kennedy-Clark who will be joined by special guests to speak to the students about the business side of music, songwriting, media, and other vital aspects of the modern music industry.
The students will celebrate the completion of the course with their graduation concert at West Tamworth League Club on January 19.