The CMAA Academy Of Country Music

26/09/2026

Thanks to Countrytown for speaking with our team. Only a couple of days left to apply!

📷 credit to Roaming Creatives

From Jessica Mauboy to The McClymonts, the CMAA Academy Of Country Music's intensive Senior Course changes musical lives, and applications for its 2027 edition are closing soon.

Other names include Sara Storer, The McClymonts, James Johnston, Jessica Mauboy, Amber Lawrence, Lyn Bowtell, Wade Forster, Max Jackson, Kaylee Bell, Ashleigh Dallas, Melody Moko, The Davidson Brothers, Judah Kelly, Adam Eckersley, Tom Curtain, Melanie Dyer, Homegrown, and Jenny Mitchell.

We sat down with Bec Gracie from The Academy to have a chat with her about the program, its students and the industry.

Click here to read the full Q&A and learn how you can apply 👉 https://countrytown.com/features/cmaa-academy-of-country-music-2027-applications-open/IhWYNDc2OTg/25-09-26

22/09/2026

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 below). Course runs 4 - 15 January 2027.

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

📽️ featuring The Academy General Manager Roger Corbett of The Bushwackers, with Musician in Residence, Rory Phillips.

18/09/2026

A reminder to get your entries in for the APRA AMCOS Professional Development Awards!

Emerging songwriters and composers at a pivotal career stage are invited to apply to the $10,000 Professional Development Awards!

Applications are open to all genres - from Country/ Americana, Popular Contemporary, Screen Composition, Classical & Experimental, and more. There are also 3x awards for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander composers and songwriters.
13 individual winners will receive funding to attend songwriting workshops, composer seminars, co-writing sessions and other relevant activities either domestically or abroad.

Dream big and apply now!

Hurry, entries close 5pm AEST Wednesday 23 September 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit https://bit.ly/APRApdas2027

15/09/2026

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!

University of New England, AU/UNE Tamworth 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 21 September 2026:

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

Pictured is the 2026 recipient of the UNE Indigenous Scholarship, Rochelle Roberts, with UNE representative Jake Morris.

📷 Roaming Creatives

14/09/2026

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: https://academycountrymusic.com.au

We've got some big news; the 2027 Toyota Park Schedule is here! Check it out below 👇👀

Friday 15 January – Opening Night Concert featuring four-time Golden Guitar winner and 2026 CMAA Female Artist of the Year Max Jackson, Tyla Rodriguess, Lily-Grace Grant, 2026 Toyota Star Maker winner Jarrad Wrigley Music, 2026 Toyota Busking Champion Jessica Holbrok Music, Senior Golden Gig, sponsored by Macca’s winner Robbi Morgan, Gore Golden Guitar winner Simon Thompson (NZ) and the 2027 CMAA Senior Graduates.

Saturday 16 January – Girls Night Out featuring Bella Mackenzie, Katie Jayne and Sarah Grace Buckley, hosted by Amber Lawrence.

Sunday 17 January – 47th Toyota Star Maker Grand Final featuring the Top 10 Finalists, the 46th Toyota Star Maker Jarrad Wrigley and special guests.

Monday 18 January - Americana in the Park featuring Clint Wilson, Dee White, Charlotte Le Lievre and Chloe Marks & The Mayhem hosted by Billie-Jo Porter Music.

Tuesday 19 January - Bluegrass Hoedown featuring Andrew Swift, The High Street Drifters, Midnight Chicken, Rusty Pickups and Lontano

Wednesday 20 January - Back to the Bush, featuring the 2026 Tamworth Bush Ballad Awards winners, hosted by Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson.

Thursday 21 January - Kix in the Park, hosted by Justin Thomson. Lineup to be announced soon.

Friday 22 January – ‘Friday Night Lights’ Album Launch Night featuring Jayne Denham, Robbie Mortimer, Dear Tommie, Brooke Schubert and Sammi Palinkas hosted by Cheryl Brown.

Saturday 23 January - Country Party in the Park featuring Kirsty Lee Akers, Will Day, Chelsea Berman, Liam Maihi, Ella Powell Music and Jonah James Music

Sunday 24 January – Toyota Best of the Buskers Championships hosted by Emma Bailey.

The Country Gospel Experience will also be held in Toyota Park on Sunday 17 January from 9am.

The University of New England will proudly sponsor backstage in Toyota Park in 2027.

Find out more 👉 https://www.tcmf.com.au/toyotapark

09/09/2026

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 Gabi Forman Music and William Louis

📷 Roaming Creatives