2027 Senior Academy

Monday 4 to Friday 15 January 2027, Tamworth NSW

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

2027 Senior Academy Graduation Concert

Thursday 14 January 2027, 7:30pm show at The Capitol Theatre, Tamworth

Groups of performers singing around 3 microphones

The Academy is Australia’s premier music program for emerging, talented singers/songwriters/performers and instrumentalists.

We offer two intensive residential courses each year for junior and senior participants and additional online programs.

Our award winning team of music professionals, mentors and industry leaders
will bridge the gap between your existing experience and your professional career.

Join The Academy alumni of successful music artists.

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Junior, Senior and online courses available

TEAM SIMON 2026 Senior Graduation Concert Group L

TEAM SIMON

2026 Senior Graduation Concert
Group Leader: @simonjohnsonmusic
Musicians in Residence: @roryphillipsau & @caitjmsn

Instrumental Graduates:
@williamlouismusic
@gabiformanmusic
@cooper_rieger_music
@noah_w_dunlop
@jameschampymusic

Also featuring interns @shyanneirwinmusic @jimmymcgrathmusic and @tahlawardmusic

If being in the band is your thing, or you’re just looking to improve your musicianship, our Instrumental course has you covered. But hurry, applications close tomorrow, Monday 28 September!

📽️ @roamingcreatives

TEAM MELODY 2026 Senior Graduation Concert Group

TEAM MELODY

2026 Senior Graduation Concert
Group Leader: @melodymoko
Intern: @shyanneirwinmusic

Graduates:
@lilygrace.grant
@rileyziskey
@ellisundercover
@ava_bizzanelli
@ewcollier
@graciejean_
@maddisonconnor.music
@lucywatsonmusic

Applications for 2027 close on Monday 28 Sept, don’t miss out!

📽️ @roamingcreatives

MUSICIANS! INSTRUMENTALISTS! We have the perfect c

MUSICIANS! INSTRUMENTALISTS! We have the perfect course for you if you’re interested in country music! Learn how to read and write Nashville Number charts, how to perform as part of a band, improve your musicality and meet the emerging artists in this industry who may just take you on the road with them. This course opens doors for musicians in the country music community and we invite you to walk straight through.

Applications open until Monday 28 September (link in our bio). Course runs 4 - 15 January 2027.

📽️ featuring The Academy General Manager @rogercorbett1 of @thebushwackersofficial with Musician in Residence, @roryphillipsau

#theacademy #musicians #instrumentalists #jointheband

TEAM GRETTA 2026 Senior Academy Graduation Concer

TEAM GRETTA

2026 Senior Academy Graduation Concert
Group Leader: @grettaziller
Intern: @jimmymcgrathmusic

Graduates:
@tamsin.official
@nickymatthews78
@garyjamesmusician
@jesswhiteofficial
@imogenhallmusic
@zacweeksmusic
@nicolamitchellmusic
@charlijade_music

If you want to be part of the next wave, get your application in now! (link in bio)

📽️ @roamingcreatives

TEAM ANTHONY 2026 Senior Academy Graduation Conc

TEAM ANTHONY

2026 Senior Academy Graduation Concert
Group Leader: @snape
Intern: @tahlawardmusic

Graduates:
@alicecottonmusic
@cheapciggie
@iamgrenon
@r0chellerob3rts
@ellerieroseofficial
@tiana.sleiman
@jessicalorrainemusic
@joshkeatingmusic

This could be YOU in 2027! Apply now!

📽️ @roamingcreatives

Are you an Indigenous musician/singer/songwriter/p

Are you an Indigenous musician/singer/songwriter/performer from the Tamworth/New England North West region, or with connections to the area? Do you have a passion for country music? If so, then we have the pathway for you!

@uninewengland @unetamworth are providing a full scholarship for an Indigenous student to attend the 2027 Senior Academy, which includes tuition fees, meals and accommodation, if required. To be considered for this wonderful opportunity, please apply to attend our program by the closing date of Monday 28 September 2026:

https://academycountrymusic.com.au/senior-course/

Pictured is the 2026 recipient of the UNE Indigenous Scholarship, @r0chellerob3rts, with UNE representative Jake Morris.

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2027 #une #indigenouseducation

Have you ever wanted to play Main Stage at the Tam

Have you ever wanted to play Main Stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival? Well if you’re one of our Senior Graduates, you will get that chance at the Opening Concert! Open to singer/songwriter/performers and musicians wanting to be part of our instrumental program, this is your opportunity to walk through the doors The Academy can open.

Apply today! Link in our bio.

@tcmf_official

Do you want to join the band? At Senior Academy,

Do you want to join the band?

At Senior Academy, we run two courses with plenty of crossover, that perfectly align with each other:

🎤 Singer/Songwriter/Performer
🎸 Instrumental

If being in the band is more your thing, if you love playing music more than singing songs, or even if you’re a singer but just want to improve your musicianship and learn how to work with a band, our Instrumental Course could be just what you’re looking for. With a focus on guitars (rhythm and lead), bass, drums, keys and fiddle, we can cater to most country-aligned instruments (banjo, pedal steel, dobro, mandolin etc), so please contact us if you have an enquiry about an instrument not listed.

Applications open now until 21 September 👇🏼
https://academycountrymusic.com.au/senior-course/

Course dates: 4 - 15 January 2027

Pictured: 2026 Senior Instrumental Graduates @gabiformanmusic and @williamlouismusic

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #instrumental #musicians #jointheband

We know the algorithms and people’s attention sp

We know the algorithms and people’s attention spans only want 60secs of content at a time, but our first Academy On The Road deserves some proper airtime on the grid! So here’s 15mins of our 2hr concert to recap what an incredible afternoon it was.

Featuring performances by:
@lynbowtell
@lucywatsonmusic
@peytonchildsmusic
@zacharyrw.music
@arabellastarlingmusic
@rogercorbett1

Backed by our talented Academy Band of @roryphillipsau (guitar, vocals, drums), @williamlouismusic (drums, dobro, banjo, vocals) and @joshbeveridgemusic (bass), who also treated us to a couple of band numbers before the interval. Plus special guest @jhanaleilaallan on fiddle for a couple of songs.

We’d like to thank Damon Morton on sound and lighting, the Branxton Community Hall for having us, and @ausgov @music.aus for providing financial assistance to ensure this project could go ahead 🙏🏼

#theacademy #theacademyontheroad

What a fabulous Father’s Day we had on Sunday, b

What a fabulous Father’s Day we had on Sunday, being entertained at the Branxton Community Hall for our very first The Academy On The Road! So proud of our alumni for their wonderful performances, and our Academy Band (also alumni) for backing everyone so beautifully.

Back row: @joshbeveridgemusic @roryphillipsau @williamlouismusic
Middle row: @lynbowtell @rogercorbett1 @taylormadeartistservices
Front row: @lucywatsonmusic @peytonchildsmusic @arabellastarlingmusic @zacharyrw.music

This project was assisted by @ausgov through @music.aus

📷 @nicandaaron
📽️ still to come

Join us for a family-friendly afternoon of song at

Join us for a family-friendly afternoon of song at ‘The Academy On The Road’ Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Branxton Community Hall. Featuring Academy graduates @arabellastarlingmusic @lucywatsonmusic @peytonchildsmusic and @zacharyrw.music, with special guests @lynbowtell and @rogercorbett1 (@thebushwackersofficial), backed by The Academy Band.

Get your tickets now! 👉🏼 Head to our website, link in bio.

#theacademyontheroad #huntervalley

It was such a joy collaborating with the @gympiemu

It was such a joy collaborating with the @gympiemusicmuster to deliver our inaugural songwriting camp, ‘The Campfire’, which went for 3 days during the pre-muster, culminating in a showcase performance on Day 1 of the Muster itself. And look, we made the front page of @gympietoday! 🗞️

Our next undertaking is ‘The Academy On The Road’ which is happening this Sunday in the Hunter Valley region of NSW at Branxton Community Hall. We’d love to see you there!

#theacademy #thecampfire #gympiemuster #theacademyontheroad

Good luck to all the @mothertone.official Muster T

Good luck to all the @mothertone.official Muster Talent Search finalists at the @gympiemusicmuster this week, especially our 8 graduates who are taking part.

Open category:
@amberley_maryellen
@imogenhallmusic
@keelyellenmusic
@nikishapriest.official
@samsnapeartist
@zacweeksmusic
@zaralindemanmusic

Junior category:
@tia.hannah_music

The winner of the Open Category will receive a full scholarship to attend The Senior Academy in January 2027 and we can’t wait to see who it is!

📣 We are excited to announce that applications

📣 We are excited to announce that applications are now OPEN for our 2027 Senior course, to be held in the @tamworthregion from 4 - 15 January 2027, just prior to @tcmf_official ! If you are a singer / songwriter / performer / instrumentalist with an interest in country music, if you want to spend a jam-packed 12 days with likeminded people, or if you aspire to have a career on stage like so many others who have risen through our ranks, this course is for you.

Applications are open for just under 4 weeks and will close 21 September 2026. Places are strictly limited, so don’t delay!

For more info and to apply, visit our website here:
https://academycountrymusic.com.au/senior-course/

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2027

A hearty congratulations to our alumni, @felicity_

A hearty congratulations to our alumni, @felicity_dowd_music on being selected as an artist for next year’s @folk_alliance showcase in Chicago! Felicity will also be representing us in the states next month when she attends @americanafest as our @scnashville exchange student. Well done Felicity! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

(Also great to see another alumni, @imogenclarkmusic on this international lineup too)

Congratulations to the winners of the recent @thee

Congratulations to the winners of the recent @theekka Country Music Showdown! Junior winner, @mollyharrison.music from NZ, who is already a Junior Academy graduate, has earned herself a full scholarship to return to The Academy in 2027 🏆 See you soon Molly!

Get @reshare_app • @theekka A HUGE CONGRATS to our Country Music Showdown winners! 🤠🎶💚

These rising stars brought the talent and had the crowd cheering!

🏆 Open: Jessica Holbrok
🏆 Junior: Molly Harrison

We can’t wait to see where your music takes you! ✨

The weeks have been flying by since we wrapped up

The weeks have been flying by since we wrapped up the 2026 Junior Academy and we still have so much to share from that time! So enjoy this incredible highlight reel from the Graduation Concert, filmed and edited by @roamingcreatives featuring one of our group songs, High Country, by @leekernaghan

#theacademy #junioracademy2026 #graduationconcert

Thanks for the shoutout Zach! Tickets are on sale

Thanks for the shoutout Zach!

Tickets are on sale now via our website for The Academy On The Road show at Branxton Community Hall in the Hunter Valley region. Sunday 6 September from 1pm to 3pm, a perfect way to spend Father’s Day! We hope to see you there.

@zacharyrw.music @theacademycmaa I’m so excited to be playing at the CMAA Academy on the road On the 6th of September!!!🎸🎸🎸

#theacademy #branxton #huntervalley #hunterregion

We are very excited to announce our first ever ACA

We are very excited to announce our first ever ACADEMY ON THE ROAD!

Featuring 4 of our recent graduates, @arabellastarlingmusic @lucywatsonmusic @peytonchildsmusic and @zacharyrw.music, plus special guest appearances from @lynbowtell and @rogercorbett1 (of @thebushwackersofficial), backed by The Academy Band of @joshbeveridgemusic @roryphillipsau and @williamlouismusic, this is going to be one lovely afternoon of music and community at the Branxton Community Hall!

🗓️ SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER (Father’s Day) 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Tickets are on sale now, head to our website.

FREE tickets available for Academy Graduates. Get in touch and we’ll send you the access code 🔓

This project has been assisted by the @ausgov through @music.aus

Artwork: @creativequeenbees

#theacademyontheroad

What a fun night we had last night at our August O

What a fun night we had last night at our August Open Mic at @qirkz_hunter 🎤 Thanks to everyone who turned up to support and/or perform, and to Yaron and his team for having us. It’s been lovely building our little music community here in the Hunter Valley.

Pictured:
1. @maverick.music1
2. @lucywatsonmusic
3. John Parker
4. @joshbeveridgemusic & @lucybeveridgemusic
5. @marligraingermusic

#theacademy #openmic #qirkzinthehunter #musiccommunity

🔥 THE CAMPFIRE 🔥 It’s August, which mean

🔥 THE CAMPFIRE 🔥

It’s August, which means it’s Muster Month! We are getting very excited about our new collaborative project with the @gympiemusicmuster, which will see these 15 Academy graduates add “Muster Artist” to their bios, at the end of a four day program spent songwriting, workshopping and camping in the beautiful Amamoor Forest 🏕️ These spots were hotly contested and with a couple of changes since our first announcement, we are thrilled to re-announce our artists:

@amberley_maryellen
@caitlindrewmusic
@charlijade_music
@coralreneemusic
@crystalrobins_music
@goldie_cosgrove_
@jopagemusic
@kanevincentmusic
@lucywatsonmusic
@olivemaewilliams
@samsnapeartist
@sariabbottmusic
@tahlawardmusic
@zacweeksmusic
@zaralindemanmusic

The Campfire Showcase will take place on the Macca’s Kickstart Stage on Thursday 27 August from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

#theacademy #gympiemuster #thecampfire

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

The Academy is an ally of the LGBTQI+ community and all students, guardians, staff and guests, regardless of how they identify, will be treated with respect.