NSW GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS NEXT GENERATION COUNTRY MUSIC STARS Saturday 23 January 2010 Premier Kristina Keneally today visited the 38th Tamworth Country Music Festival to support the annual event and meet with New England families and businesses. Tamworth will welcome more than 50,000 visitors and country music fans during the course of the 10 day festival, contributing more than $18 million to the local economy. The NSW Government, through Events NSW, is working with organisers to raise the international profile of the festival. The 38th Tamworth Country Music Festival is the largest ever with more than 2,200 events and 4,000 different performances. More than 600 buskers will also perform throughout the course of the festival in Tamworth’s main thoroughfare – Peel Street. During her visit, Premier Keneally also announced the NSW Government will fund five new scholarships in this year’s Country Music Association of Australia’s (CMAA) Australian Academy of Country Music scholarship program. The scholarship program brings some of the best and brightest Country Musicians to Tamworth, where they stay for two weeks and receive professional coaching in all aspects of country music. Tuition is available for both under 18 performers and more experienced adult performers. Ms Keneally said the CMAA Academy of Country Music Program has been a breeding ground for future stars of Country Music. “Previous graduates of this program include Golden Guitar winners Sara Storer, Talia Wittman and Brooke and Samantha McClymont of the McClymont Sisters,” Ms Keneally said “For many budding country music stars this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the skills required to establish themselves in the Country Music Industry. “Students learn everything from song writing, to vocal technique and delivery, business management and marketing skills, as well as performance technique and music theory. “They are mentored by some of the biggest names in Country Music including Troy Cassar - Daley, John Williamson and Kasey Chambers. “The NSW Government is proud to support this program and proud to support country music.” Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia, Mr Rod Laing said the investment to the Academy in 2010 by the NSW Government is a great boost in its first year as a combined program. “The Academy in Tamworth is unique, there is nothing like it in Australia, in fact the world, and it demonstrates the commitment to growing and developing Australian country music.” .