Tamworth Camerata. 

Youth Country Music

The name Camerata, dating from the 16th century, simply translated, means: Music school. 

Read all about it!!

Scroll down for CCMA Junior Winter Talent Quest winners 2001 -the first CAMERATA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

 

 THE LAUNCH

Tamworths Mayor Warren Woodley, with Camerata Launch performers:-Ben Hazell, Aleyce Simmonds, Rosie Lockhart, Karlee Simmonds, Charlene Bailey, Greg Williams (Host) & Katrina Burgoyne

      

Amber Williams            Penelope Sommerville

School's in for young country stars

AUSTRALIA'S Country Music industry looks set to have a secure future with the establishment of Tamworth Camerata - a formal annual Country Music course for gifted, young performers Australia-wide 17 years and younger, based in the Country Music Capital.

The Camerata's inaugural 2002 intake will involve 21 selected students working together over a five-day period from July 7 through to July 11, 2002.

Initially Tamworth Camerata began as the dream of Tamworth musician Greg Williams and prominent hotelier Joan Douglas, who saw it as the next step up the ladder for young performers who were professionally "between gigs".

 "Both Greg and I recognised the very real problem that we could be losing these kids from the Country Music industry," Mrs Douglas said. "The problem is they progress through the talent quest circuit but after that, where do they go?   How do they get to that next level?  They've got all that talent, but they're too young for the wonderful CMAA Australian College of Country Music, and too young to enter Star Maker.   

This is the critical point where we could lose all that talent.

Keenly aware of this void between talent quests and college, the idea for Tamworth Camerata was born - and quickly grew beyond all expectations.   Major sponsorship was immediately secured from Tamworth Towers, Hazelton Airlines, The Northern Daily Leader and Channel Ten.   Almost from conception 12 local Tamworth business houses  displayed foresight in getting behind this project by committing to part sponsorship of each student.   As the course progresses, and after its finished, each business will form a real association with their sponsored student, being kept updated with regular newsletters and information on that student's progress.  

While the concept of Tamworth Camerata has been embraced by the business sector, the overall project is being underwritten by the Douglas family - Bevan, Joan, Tierzah and Jarod, owners of SouthGate Inn, The Pub and The Family Hotel . 

The leading Country Music industry body in Australia, the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has also given the project its support.   

For further information please contact Joan Douglas on 0417 233 713.

Thanks for wonderful assistance to www.tamworthragepage.com

7th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th JULY 2002

TAMWORTH CAMERATA (an annual formal Country Music School for young performers aged 17 or younger)
update March 2002

From the wonderful Tamworth Camerata launch at THE PUB on Thursday 12 July, 2001, a valuable new initiative started, and is gathering momentum. There are already 6 participants slotted in for Camerata #1 in July 2002, with more being announced progressively over the next few months..

As well as the 2001 CCMA Tamworth Junior Winter Talent Quest Junior Winner:-

Amber Williams from Brisbane  and Juvenile Winner:-

                     Victorian - Penelope Sommerville,  

Cameratas first intake expanded to include the two scholarships awarded to winners of  Mildura Festivals 2002 Victorian Champion of Champions competition.

They are Singer/Guitarist Michael Muchow from Brisbane,  who is a past CCMA winner,

and Milduras own Shanna Zibell

They’re the next successful enrolments for Camerata, which will be staged for the first time in July 2002, for 5 days of extensive workshops with key personnel from the Australasian Country Music Industry.

In November 2001, another Camerata scholarship was awarded, to the Junior winner of the Queensland Champion of Champions Brooke Schubert  from a very strong field of contestants.

From January’s 2002 Tamworth Country Music Festival another Camerata scholarship was awarded, this one to the winner of KMarts Jazzer Smith Talent Quest Junior section – Tamworth singer Aleyce Simmonds

 Tamworths Axiom Entertainment Agency has agreed to award this scholarship annually to the Junior winner of this 21 year old talent quest.

Four more scholarships are still to be awarded. There will be:

Two from Western Australia’s Young Guns of Country Music

One from South Australian Arts Council

One for the winner from Queenslands Cane Country Talent Quest.

There are ten scholarships out of a total of 21 available places.

Applications flowing in from interested individual performers, proving a very strong interest in Camerata entry from all over Australia and New Zealand.

Applications closed on February 28, and the successful applicants will be selected by the end of March, and all applicants will be notified as soon as possible.

The first Tamworth Camerata - 2002 will be staged on the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th JULY 2002

Anyone interested should contact:-

Joan Douglas 0417233713 and/or Greg Williams 0408255908

Email:- thepub@bigfoot.com

Or gregrwilliams@bigpond.com

For further information please visit THE PUB website:- www.thepub.com.au

*news item!!!!!

Back to school for young talent, but Aleyce delighted to attend Country Music lessons (extracted from Anna Rose editorial, Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth)

Fifteen year old Tamworth singer Aleyce Simmonds was delighted to be named winner of the Jazzer Smith Kmart Talent Quest 2002, taking home $500 in prize money. Her delight turned to astonishment a few weeks later when the teenager discovered an unexpected bonus in the form of a fully paid scholarship to the inaugural 2002 Tamworth Camerata – a five day Country Music school for participants 17 years and younger, to be held from 7 till 11 July this year.

New owners of the long-established Tamworth entertainment agency Axiom Entertainment, Paul and Theresa Coulton, didn’t hesitate when the concept of the Camerata was fully explained by Greg Williams, organiser of the annual Kmart Talent Quest, now in its 21st year, and coordinator of Tamworth Camerata.

           Greg Williams -Aleyce Simmonds - Paul Coulton

            “It’s a wonderful thing for Aleyce and also a great incentive for future participants in the Jazzer-Kmart quest” Greg said. “Paul and Theresa from Axiom have offered the Camerata scholarship annually to junior winners of the quest, which is pretty amazing. The added bonus for Axiom Entertainment is that Aleyce is a local girl and in coming years it would be great for them to know they assisted a talented youngster along the way, when it was needed.”

Aleyce came to Tamworth from Port MacQuarie a couple of years ago, and soon became aware of the Capital Country Music Association and the monthly Performance Workshops, Pub Jams and ACMF Birthday Bashes she now attends and performs at regularly. “Having a paid Camerata scholarship is like a dream to me.” Aleyce said. “I’ve always wanted to be a singer and I think the Camerata will be great. I’m looking forward to learning all aspects of the music business. I still can’t believe its true. Winning the junior section of the Kmart Talent Quest was really good, and now this. It’s unbelievable, but it’s true!”

Following her big win at Kmart, Aleyce also went on to win the junior vocal section, junior duo (with Ben Hazell) and then the Overall prize in CCMA’s Jamboree Talent Quest at this years festival, which puts her in illustrious company indeed.

After Greg had approached Axioms Paul and Theresa Coulton about the awarding of an annual scholarship, they attended the monthly Pub Jam, and heard Aleyce sing. “When Theresa and I heard Aleyce sing, her voice just blew us away. Her vocal quality was so much more advanced than I expected. She even has her own unique style. We see the Camerata scholarships as an investment in the future. To give someone the benefit of working with some of the best in the Australian Country Music industry and the chance to expand their skills is a wonderful thing.”

Aleyce, who made an individual Camerata application prior to winning Axioms scholarship, is the 10^th scholarship winner to Camerata. The others are awarded from Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Western Australia. As there are only 21 Camerata places available, that makes the competition fierce for the remaining spots. The individual applications have come in from all over Australia, and NZ, and closed on 28^th February. A full list of Camerata participants will be released in the next couple of weeks.

Tamworth Camerata – Educating Young Country Music performers

Where do talent quest winners go next?

How do they get to that next level?

We think we have a solution – Tamworth Camerata!

Greg Williams and Joan Douglas have now launched the youth Country  Music education concept called Tamworth Camerata,  aimed exclusively at our best young performers – 16 years and younger.The first 5 day course commences on July 7, 2002, directly preceding CCMA’s Junior Winter Talent Quest.

It’s obvious there’s a need to create opportunities for our young Country Music performers – hence Tamworth Camerata’s formation. There is a void that needs filling – somewhere our younger performers can gain valuable knowledge that will help take them from the amateur scene through to a possible professional career in Country Music.

Through Tamworth Camerata, we aim to help our students achieve a step up the Country Music ladder, focusing on acceptance into the successful CMAA College, which is staged yearly in Tamworth, prior to the January Country Music Festival.  Many CMAA College graduates are now established Country Music artists, Starmaker winners, Golden Guitar winners and nominees .

In Country Music clubs all over Australasia, there are performers with exceptional talent, but they’re too young for the CMAA College and the Star Maker quest. This is the critical point where we could lose some talented performers from our CM industry. Why not submit an application to Tamworth Camerata for your best young talent?

Or - Phone/Fax +61 (02) 6766 2616
        Mobile +61 0408 255 908

Or - P O Box 1681, Tamworth NSW 2340

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