Aberdare teen Finnian Johnson has been chosen to attend the prestigious Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) Junior Academy of Country Music in Tamworth in July.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s a dream opportunity for the 14-year-old singer-guitarist, who has been performing around Cessnock and the vineyards for about 18 months.
Twenty-six students aged nine to 17 from Australia and New Zealand were selected to attend the eight-day workshop.
They will receive intense tuition in many aspects of country music including performance, songwriting, musicianship, working in a group and harmony singing.
The junior academy course runs during Tamworth’s Hats off to Country Festival, and the graduates will support Adam Harvey on the final night of the course.
Finnian’s father Scott will join him at the Tamworth course, where parents and guardians receive a business course ideally suited to managing their child’s musical future.
Finnian said he was excited to hear he was accepted into the Junior academy.
“I’m looking forward to learning everything I can about music and performing,” he said.
A Year 9 student at St Joseph’s Lochinvar, Finnian is starting to make a name for himself on the local live music circuit.
He started busking about 12 months ago, and has had a regular spot at the De Bortoli Saturday markets since September.
In October he took part in Youth Rockin’ the Black Dog talent quest at Lizotte’s in Newcastle, which he said was a great experience.
In April this year he won the Cessnock Youth Week talent quest Take The Stage with his rendition of Seven Years by Lukas Graham.
His prize was a one-day session in a recording studio, and he will release his CD soon.
Finnian busked at the Cessnock Stomp Festival in April, which opened up a lot of opportunities – he has since performed at Cypress Lakes Resort, Hope Estate and Purple Hayes Tapas and Bar.
Earlier this year he started doing pub gigs and is now a regular at the Railway Hotel on Friday nights, covering everything from Ed Sheeran to Johnny Cash.
“When I perform, people seem to enjoy it, and that makes me happy,” he said.
He was fortunate enough to play at Troy Kemp’s gig at the Khartoum Hotel Kitchener on Mother’s Day, and just last week supported Travis Collins (who was a CMAA graduate in 2004).
The publicans kick-started a fundraising campaign by passing around a hat to help Finnian get to Tamworth (the workshop costs $2500).
If you can assist, contact Finnian via his Facebook page.
