2026 Junior Academy 4-11 July

Applications close Tuesday 31 March 2026

APPLY NOW

2025 CMAA Academy Sister Cities Nashville Exchange

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

2026 Junior Academy Graduation Concert

Saturday 11 July 2026, 11am at Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar

TICKETS COMING SOON

Maton Guitar Raffle Tickets

Drawn 5pm, Tuesday 31 March 2026
Troubadour Dreadnought (valued at $3599)

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS

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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Find Your Tribe
See Yourself
Share Your Story
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@ The Academy
Junior, Senior and online courses available

⚠️ ATTENTION PARENTS ⚠️ Did you know that

⚠️ ATTENTION PARENTS ⚠️

Did you know that as part of the Junior Academy, we also have a course specifically tailored to YOU 🫵🏻 which runs alongside the student singer/songwriter/performer and instrumental courses?

As students in the Junior course MUST BE accompanied by a parent or guardian, a separate course especially designed for them is available while they are with their children in Tamworth at The Academy.

The course is aimed at helping parents/guardians understand the music industry and how best to help their talented children develop their skills. This unique parent course at The Academy has been universally acclaimed by parents as a hands-on, down-to-earth, common sense, eye-opening course for self management.

Apply for you and your child now! Applications close 31 March 2026 (link in bio).

Pictured: 2025 Junior Class parents/guardians

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #junioracademy #musicbusiness #parentcourse

If you’ve been watching @australianidol you may

If you’ve been watching @australianidol you may have noticed a couple of familiar faces 😍😍

Congratulations to our graduates @lilygrace.grant and @rileyziskey who both made it into the Top 30 and past the first “chorus line” challenge. Unfortunately Riley was eliminated last night, so now we all need to get behind Lily-Grace and cheer her on! Good luck Lil! 🤞🏼

#theacademy #australianidol #countrymusic #chasingdreams

A reminder about your chance to WIN this beautiful

A reminder about your chance to WIN this beautiful @matonguitars Troubadour Dreadnought acoustic guitar with hard case (valued at $3599), by purchasing your ticket/s in our raffle. All money raised will go towards our @scnashville exchange program and will help cover expenses for the Aussie graduate we send to the US later this year.

Pictured below is our General Manager, @RogerCorbettwith 2026 Nashville 🇺🇸 exchange student, @iamgrenon, who used the guitar during her time at The Academy and during @tcmf_official

If you missed getting a ticket during TCMF, you can still purchase online. Tickets are drawn at 5pm Tuesday 31 March and thanks to the Raffletix unique system, all tickets sold online will be printed with a unique ticket number and combined with physical tickets sold during the 2026 Tamworth Country Music Festival, for the final draw.

Due to varying state and territory raffle laws, our online tickets are only available to NSW, QLD, SA, and TAS residents however, we can deliver the prize to any Australian state or territory, so if you can use a friend or relative’s address (in a participating state) for your entry, we wouldn’t have an issue with that 😉 (tix available from our website, link in bio).

A heartfelt thank you to @matonguitars for their ongoing support ❤️

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #sistercities #exchangeprogram #matonguitars

DAY 3 - Wednesday 7 January Professional Co-Writin

DAY 3 - Wednesday 7 January
Professional Co-Writing

More amazing songs were co-written on Day 3 of Senior Academy, with students paired up with our staff members and special guest songwriters, including @wadeforstermusic @maxjacksonmusic @snapelive @grettaziller @jennymitchellmusic @melodymoko @gavincarfoot @mattscullionmusic and @lynbowtell. So many of these new songs made their way to our Graduation Concert on night 11 and it’s crazy to think just how much can be refined and achieved in such a short time! 📝🎼

@cheapciggie
@jesswhite_music
@lucywatsonmusic
@graciejean_
@iamgrenon
@tiana.sleiman
@tamsin.official
@zacweeksmusic
@ava_bizzanelli
@ellerieroseofficial
@jessicalorrainemusic
@joshkeatingmusic
@nickymatthews78
@alicecottonmusic
@rileyziskey

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2026 #cowriting #songwriting

Is the stage the place where you really shine? Do

Is the stage the place where you really shine? Do you love performing to a full house alongside your peers? If this sounds like your idea of fun and you’re looking to fill your mid-year holidays with music, then head to our website and complete your application form now! Junior Academy will run in Tamworth from 4 - 11 July and is for singers, songwriters, performers and instrumentalists aged under 18 (must be accompanied by a parent/guardian).

Applications close 31 March 2026 👉🏼 hit the link in our bio.

Pictured: 2025 Junior Graduate @phoebe_rose_music (with @davidjonesjnrmusic )

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #junioracademy2026 #singers #songwriters #performers

SCHOLARSHIPS! Are you a philanthropic individual/

SCHOLARSHIPS!

Are you a philanthropic individual/family who is passionate about supporting emerging Australian country music artists? Would you like to provide a full or partial scholarship to honour the memory of someone else? Do you have a business who would would like to support a student to attend The Academy and receive a tax break for your kindness? Whatever your reasons or interests in The Academy and our Australian country music community, we would love to hear from you! With the increasing cost of living, we have more and more students asking for financial assistance each year, and we’d hate for a talented child to miss an opportunity to attend The Academy just because their family can’t afford it. If you feel this is something you could help with, please get in touch with us and we will happily send you more information.

As always, we are so grateful to our existing scholarship providers for giving our students an experience they will never forget!

Pictured from the 2025 Junior Academy:

🌟 Mary Dean who supported @thecurrymob (Blue & Mika Curry).
🌟 Ros Whitney who supported Harper Jessop
🌟 Ross Johnson with Briar Sharp (NZ), recipient of the Robyn Johnson Memorial Scholarship.
🌟 Greg & Lynette Grimes who supported @jaxsonrenshawofficial
🌟 A selection of our students (and Group Leader @brendonwalmsley ) who all play @matonguitars. Maton is one of our major sponsors and at the 2025 Junior Academy provided a full scholarship to Instrumental student @davidjonesjnrmusic (guitarist @castlereaghconnection ) and partial scholarship to Instrumental student @lucybeveridgemusic
🌟 Steve & Michelle Simmonds of @simmondskitchens who supported @miahevelynmusic
🌟 Not pictured, but very much appreciated, are the following organisations who provided funding/scholarships to students of the 2025 Junior Academy: @creative.australia @cmaaofficial @theekka and @jmcacademy

📷 @roamingcreatives (last photo @countryjourno )

DAY 3 - Wednesday 7 January Morning Warm Ups War

DAY 3 - Wednesday 7 January
Morning Warm Ups

Warm ups aren’t just about getting the body and mind moving, they’re also a prime opportunity to forge friendships and get to know your fellow students in a safe space. It’s one of our favourite parts of our days! 🌅

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2026 #findyourtribe

CALLING ALL INSTRUMENTALISTS! 🎸🎹🎻🥁🪕

CALLING ALL INSTRUMENTALISTS! 🎸🎹🎻🥁🪕🪗

Did you know that in conjunction with our Singer/Songwriter/Performer course, we also run a specialist Instrumental course, ideal for those who are passionate about playing, who are more comfortable not being out front, or those who just want to improve their musicianship? Whatever your reason, if being in the band is more your thing, then this is the course for you! 🫵🏼

Open to musicians who play guitar, bass, drums, keys, fiddle, pedal steel (we can cover most “country” instruments), who would like connect with likeminded peers and have the opportunity to play as part of a band, learn to read and write charts and generally improve their playing and stagecraft. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, then apply today via our website 💻 link in bio.

Applications for both the Instrumental and Singer/Songwriter/Performer courses are now open. Applications close 31 March 2026 and are open to students aged under 18.

Pictured: 2025 Junior Instrumental Graduate, @lucybeveridgemusic

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #instrumentalists #musicians #musiceducation

Day 2 Recap 🎶 Warm ups 🎶 Songwriting worksh

Day 2 Recap

🎶 Warm ups
🎶 Songwriting workshops
🎶 Professional co-writing
🎶 Masterclasses

And that’s just what we fit into this reel!

📽️ @roamingcreatives
🎼 @homegrowntrio

#theacademy #senioracademy2026

DAY 2 - Tuesday 6 January
Masterclasses

Yes, we’re playing catch up now, but things are so busy when we’re on site that we don’t always get time to share! 🫣

Day 2 was the start of our masterclasses, delivering expert tuition in guitar (advanced, intermediate and beginner), pedal steel, keys and vocals. Big thanks to our guest tutors, @rustycrookmusic and Lawrie Minson, who joined our other members of staff to help deliver these masterclasses for our students.

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2026 #masterclasses

2026 JUNIOR ACADEMY
Applications are now OPEN! 📣

The Junior Academy will run in Tamworth, NSW from 4 - 11 July 2026, and will incorporate the unique Parent Course, which runs alongside the Junior Course for young singer/songwriter/performers and instrumentalists.

The Academy places emphasis on nurturing different creative styles within the broad definition of country music today. Our course runs for 8 days culminating in a graduation concert in front of a live audience. Students receive intense tuition in every aspect of country music including performance, songwriting, musicianship, working in a group and harmony singing.

Our intensive instrumental course runs alongside the singer/songwriter/performer course and the two are designed to compliment each other. Aimed at young musicians who want to improve their musicianship, learn about reading and writing chord and number charts, connect with likeminded peers and have the opportunity to play as part of a band. Many aspects of the SSP course are entwined with the instrumental course, but instrumentalists also receive tuition specific to them, the instruments they play and working with a band.

Places for this prestigious course are highly sought after so don't delay in submitting your application. Applications will close on 31 March 2026 and are open to students aged 17 and under.

For more information and to complete your application, please head to our website (link in bio) and please tag any young singers/songwriters/performers/musicians in the comments who might be interested in joining us!

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #junioracademy2026 #musiceducation #singersongwriters #instrumentalists

INTERN APPLICATIONS OPEN - JUNIOR ACADEMY 2026 Jo

INTERN APPLICATIONS OPEN - JUNIOR ACADEMY 2026

Join the black shirt brigade! 🖤 Applications are now open for the roles of interns at our next Junior Academy, which will run from 4 - 11 July 2026 in Tamworth. As part of developing these roles, our aim is to offer internships to past graduates who may be interested in working at and giving back to The Academy, not only to assist us in running the programs smoothly, but to offer more up-skilling opportunities to those interested.

As an extension program for previous Academy graduates, intern positions are open to past Academy alumni ONLY and applicants must have a sound knowledge of music theory and the ability to write charts, have a can-do attitude and be willing to “muck in”.

For more information and to APPLY, visit our website here: https://academycountrymusic.com.au/

Pictured are our three wonderful interns from the 2025 Junior Academy: @joshbeveridgemusic @milliemaymills and @abigailwighton with Musician in Residence @roryphillipsau

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #interns #jointheteam

We’re at the sold out @matonguitars Showcase thi

We’re at the sold out @matonguitars Showcase this morning, selling raffle tickets to win this beautiful Troubadour Dreadnought acoustic guitar (valued at $3599). All money raised goes towards our @scnashville exchange program to help cover expenses, modelled here with our current exchange student from Nashville, Grenon 🇺🇸

If you don’t manage to get tickets while we’re here, you can still purchase online. Tickets are drawn at 5pm Tuesday 31 March.

Purchase online tix from our website (link in bio).

SOLD OUT‼️ Thank you Tamworth for selling out

SOLD OUT‼️

Thank you Tamworth for selling out @moonshinershonkytonkbar tonight! We can’t wait for you to watch our students shine ✨ We have 25 original songs plus some extras up our sleeve and we know you’re going to love it!

#theacademy #senioracademy2026 #tcmf2026 #soldout

DAY 2 - Tuesday 6 January Songwriting The creati

DAY 2 - Tuesday 6 January
Songwriting

The creative juices were flowing on the second day, with professional co-writing sessions with @maxjacksonmusic and @mattscullionmusic scheduled, plus songwriting workshops with our GM, @rogercorbett1. So many wonderful songs have been born here, we can’t wait for you to hear them all!

@imogenhallmusic
@lilygrace.grant
@garyjamesmusician
@charlijade_music

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2026 #songwriting #cowriting

DAY 2 - Tuesday 6 January Morning Warm Ups When y

DAY 2 - Tuesday 6 January
Morning Warm Ups

When your day starts like this, how could it not be a good day?! Getting the bodies moving with lots of laughs and connections is how we like to do it.

#itsnotacult 😆

📷 @roamingcreatives

Can you believe we managed to fit all of this into

Can you believe we managed to fit all of this into Day 1?

🎵 Getting to know each other
🎵 Media opportunities
🎵 Random group rehearsals & performance
🎵 Media training

Each day is jammed packed and we’ll share as much with you as we can…as soon as we get a chance! 😅

📽️ @roamingcreatives
🎼 @jennymitchellmusic

#theacademy #senioracademy2026

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January Media Training Thanks to

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January
Media Training

Thanks to @shazbirkett from @tmfm955 and our own @countryjourno for running media training on Monday evening to round out our first big day at The Academy. We ran a series of mock interviews to demonstrate how live radio should (and shouldn’t!) go, giving the students practical skills to carry forward into their professional careers. To hear how it’s paying off, make sure you’re tuning into ‘Breakfast with Sharnae’ each morning for our students’ daily interviews.

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #senioracademy2026

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January Maton Guitars presentatio

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January
Maton Guitars presentation

@scnashville exchange student, @iamgrenon, being presented with her loan Maton guitar to use during her time here in Australia. HUGE thanks to @matonguitars for this ongoing support, which is not only helpful to our US exchange student, but also helps us to pay for our next Aussie to go over to America later in the year, as we will raffle this guitar when Grenon is finished with it to raise funds for flights. Stay tuned for raffle details coming soon!

📷 @roamingcreatives

#theacademy #sistercitiesexchangeprogram #matonguitars

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January Random Group 3 Performan

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January
Random Group 3 Performance

📷 @roamingcreatives

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January Random Group 2 Performanc

DAY 1 - Monday 5 January
Random Group 2 Performance

📷 @roamingcreatives

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SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

BEHAVIOURAL CODE OF CONDUCT

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

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.