Key Staff at The Academy

Roger Corbett – General Manager

Roger Corbett has been the General Manager of The Academy for well over a decade, but his history with the organisation goes way back.  Prior to being appointed as GM, Roger took on the roles of Academy Director, Group Leader, Guest Songwriter and Songwriting and Instrumental Masterclass Tutor, which he started doing in 1998.  Since then, Roger has trained some of the country music industry’s most successful artists. “It has been a wonderful experience to train these emerging artists and then see them take on the world.   It’s what keeps me interested in The Academy project, and hopefully it will continue long after I’m not around.”

Roger has also been an integral member of the multi-award winning, iconic Aussie band The Bushwackers for 40+ years and has been attending the Tamworth Country Music Festival since 1981.  The Bushwackers have released 26 albums, won three Golden Guitars, three MO Awards, have four gold records and were inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January 2021.  Boasting a touring and recording career spanning over 50 years, The Bushwackers continue to perform to sell-out crowds whenever they go.

Lyn Bowtell – Artistic Director

Lyn Bowtell’s musical journey began in the Country Music Clubs of the Darling Downs and has led her to stages all over Australia and around the world, as well as landing her a spot on national television on Channel Nine’s ‘The Voice’ Australia (Season Six).  Lyn first came to prominence as a songwriter and singer for multi-award winning Country Pop trio Bella.  Since then, she has released three critically acclaimed solo albums, ’Secret Songs’ in 2012, ‘Heart of Sorrow’ in 2014 and ‘Wiser’ in 2022, and in addition to her stellar solo career, Lyn makes up one third of Australian Folk Country super-group, Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart.

Lyn Bowtell is a Toyota Star Maker winner, MO Award winner, APRA Song of The Year finalist, ten-time Golden Guitar winner and 2022 Hands of Fame Inductee.  Lyn has had a long and positive involvement with The Academy, from her time as a former student through to her many years as Artistic Director, the role she has been in since 2015.

Samantha Taylor – Administration Manager/Social Media Manager/Student Coordinator

Director of Taylor Made Artist Services, Sam saw a niche market where she could put her ten years as an Executive Assistant at her local council to good use within the music industry, by applying her organisational and administrative skills to assist artists with the day-to-day running of their businesses.  As well as The Academy, Sam’s clients include Fanny Lumsden, The Bushwackers, Shane Nicholson, Montgomery Church and emerging artist, Rory Phillips.  She has volunteered her time and expertise to her local festival in various roles such as Chairperson, Entertainment Coordinator and Publicity Officer, since 2013.  In 2021, Sam was announced as a finalist in the NSW Murray Riverina Business Awards, after taking out the Outstanding Business Leader Award at her local Tumut Region Business Awards, and was also named the Tumut Lions Club Citizen of the Year 2022.

Sam has been working for The Academy since July 2019 but actually started her journey with us in 2016 (and again in 2018) by attending our parent course as part of the Junior Academy.

Ashleigh Dallas – Assistant Director

Ashleigh Dallas embodies the spirit of Australian country music with her extraordinary talent and boundless creativity. Hailing from the heart of country music in Tamworth, Ashleigh has become a shining star in the industry, earning accolades as a 5 x CMAA Golden Guitar Winner, trading in her hair cutting scissors for a full time music career and being a mum to 2 sweet daughters. 

From the moment she could hold an instrument, Ashleigh’s musical journey began. The 2022 Female Artist of The Year is a multi-instrumentalist, where she effortlessly weaves melodies with her guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin, captivating audiences with her “jack of all trades” approach and heartfelt connection to her lyrics.  

A graduate of the Senior Academy herself in 2010, Ashleigh has had a long association with The Academy, from guest speaker and songwriter, to Group Leader and now Assistant Director, where her key role is to assist Lyn Bowtell with all creative matters on-ground.

Rebecca Gracie – Publicity/Print Media

Rebecca Gracie of The Country Journo has been a country music journalist for more than 20 years, a publicist for seven years and also works as an artist manager.  She served as the entertainment, country music, defence and a general news reporter at The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth for 13 years, has written for Country Music Capital News for more than a decade and has also written for Country Update Magazine.

The Country Journo opened its doors in 2016 in Tamworth, catering for the media needs of the country music industry. Since then, Rebecca has worked from Australia’s Country Music Capital writing bios and looking after the promotional and media needs of multiple artists.  Rebecca has also worked for festivals including the Gympie Music Muster, Country on Keppel, Lighthouse Country and Live on the Lachlan in various roles.

Rebecca is a former board member of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) and has been actively involved in the Golden Guitar Awards for many years.  In her role as the Academy Publicist, she manages all print media and promotion for our courses.

Vanessa Byrnes – Cultural Advisor (Yorta Yorta Nation) off campus

As leader in Aboriginal Education and Performing Arts at St Mary of the Angels Secondary College Nathalia, Vanessa brings 20 years’ experience in mentoring and nurturing students.  Vanessa has a comprehensive knowledge around OHS and Cultural Protocols to allow The Academy to be an inclusive safe environment for all students and staff.