Kenthurst’s Ava Bizzanelli amongst 27 other students, is a junior scholarship winner for Tamworth’s CMAA Academy of Country Music, happening from July 14 to July 20.
Every year, Tamworth’s Academy of Country Music selects rising talents to immerse them in an intensive six-day course taught by Australia’s biggest musical stars. Known as the Country Music Capital of Australia, Tamworth has hosted both junior (10-18 years old) a`nd senior programs for over 20 years. The Academy is a prestigious scholarship, with recipients travelling from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and even New Zealand.
Throughout the course, 16-year-old Ava will practise her musicianship, songwriting, performance, business, and media skills at Tamworth’s Liberty College. During the program, students will co-write with professional songwriters and learn about the music business from industry experts. Notable alumni of the Junior Course include Jessica Mauboy, James Johnston, Max Jackson, and Melanie Dyer.
Ava’s ambitions are to one-day create and perform her own music and believes that:
“As an artist it’s important to explore all genres of music, to develop my own sound and style. In 2021 I began writing my own songs and took my ideas to The Artist Studio, where I have been working to create a catalogue of my original music”.
Ava has been singing with the Sister2Sister School of Singing since she was seven years old, focusing on pop, jazz and country. Her previous work within the ‘S2S Squad’ has led to numerous music opportunities including recording backing vocals for two of Delta Goodrem’s albums and performing alongside Goodrem at ANZ Stadium for Fire Fight Australia.
Ava is drawn to the world of performing and musical theatre, as demonstrated by her recent high school production of Mamma Mia. However, she also loves dancing, piano and guitar and is Ava is excited to continue working on her music and acknowledged the difficulty for young artists to navigate the music industry without supportive mentors:
“I am excited to work with some of Australia’s up-and-coming country music stars. I believe it’s a wonderful opportunity to collaborate in songwriting and performing, and to form relationships with talented and like-minded people. As a young person the music industry is extremely difficult to navigate. Any support or mentorship from those in the industry is beneficial to young and developing artists!”
The students in Tamworth will be mentored by a host of musical talent and professionals including Academy Director Lyn Bowtell, General Manager Roger Corbett and Assistant Director Ashleigh Dallas.
