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The Capital Country Music Association is a community based group of folk who not only love country music but enjoy the nurturing and promotion of particularly young talent by supporting them with performance workshops and monthly showcases with many special opportunities to perform at shows promoting country music and supporting the community. The CCMA is a non-profit organisation. Email admin@ccma.net.au The Capital Country Music Association is a community based group of folk who not only love country music but enjoy the nurturing and promotion of particularly young talent by supporting them with performance workshops and monthly showcases with many special opportunities to perform at shows promoting country music and supporting the community. The CCMA is a non-profit organisation. Email info@ccma.net.au |
Capital Country Music Association set for revitalisation
The future of the Association was uncertain after the small group of executive members who had been keeping the organisation, and its flagship events – the National Talent Quest and Country Music Jamboree in January – running brought the issue to public attention. A special meeting was called earlier this month to gauge support for the organisation's continuation which attracted more than 30 representatives from Tamworth's country music industry including musicians, singers, media representatives and previous members. The meeting overwhelmingly agreed that the Capital Country Music Association was a vital part of the Tamworth country music scene and that it should continue to be a major part of the city's music industry infrastructure. A new executive and committee were elected to oversee the running of the Association for the next 12 months with a clear aim to revitalise the organisation. Steve Newton (pictured above) was elected President, Steve Charles Senior Vice President and Jon Wolfe Junior Vice President. Sally-Anne Whitten was elected Secretary, Bob Kirchner Assistant Secretary, Peter Harkins Treasurer and Jodie Crosby Publicity Officer.
At an open meeting of the Association following election of the new committee, a number of issues were raised including the need to ensure that the annual talent quest and Jamboree should continue and that regular showcases, workshops and "jams" should also be held. Venue options are currently being sourced and it is hoped that the first event will take place on Thursday June 2. Other matters on the agenda included sponsorship, the structure and format of the National Talent Quest and judging and possible reinstitution of the annual Junior Winter Talent Quest. A taskforce has also been established to organise a fundraising concert during this year's Hats Off To Country festival in Tamworth in July. In the photo above... Standing (from left): Peter Harkins, Shaza Leigh, Dot Gilchrist, Peggy Gilchrist, Jodie Crosby, Michele Simmonds, Bob Kirchner and Diane Jones. Seated (from left): Jon Wolfe, Sally-Anne Whitten, Steve Newton and Steve Charles. Talent Quest Alumni on the country charts
And finally by joining Jessica Smith from Sydney to take joint honours as overall winners of the 2005 CCMA National Talent Quest (click here for a full list of winners). Ben had at least two other professional bookings during the Festival at Southbound’s Country in the Vineyard concerts at Tangaratta, just outside the Tamworth city limits. Ben entered several talent quests, winning the junior Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the Year talent quest at Wests. He then backed that up with the daily double at the Jim Beam Jazzer Quest at The Pub, taking second and third place, one of them in a duo with Sydney’s Jessica Smith.
The 2005 Festival Queen Entrants were a welcome attraction to both the Young Guns Concert and CCMA Jamboree welcoming visitors and acting as delightful ushers. Here they are pictured with the fabulous Kensell’s Holden ute that was used to transport Troy Cassar-Daley and Sara Storer around Tamworth during the 2005 Telstra Country Music Festival. A special congratulations to the delightful Samantha McClymont who was the OVERALL WINNER at the 2003 CCMA NATIONAL TALENT QUEST and who this year won the prestigious 2005 TOYOTA STAR MAKER QUEST (pictured here with her new car).
Samantha follows in the footsteps of Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Lyn Bowtell, Felicity Urquhart, Deneise Morrison and others who have in their early years all benefited from the Capital Country Music Association making it a natural progression to such quests as Toyota Star Maker and the Golden Guitars and the new Telstra Road To Tamworth competition won by Tamworth’s newly claimed “daughter” Aleyce Simmonds. Aleyce won her heat in Armidale and on January 18th competed in the Grand Final and was announced the Overall Winner from 34 other contestants throughout Australia. Aleyce’s prize pool includes a trip to Nashville to record a single with Sony/BMG, a video clip, representation by Allied Artists, a Maton Guitar and more. Aleyce’s mum and dad Michelle and Steve and her sisters 14 year old Karlee and 10 year old Sarah are overjoyed with this win and Aleyce was quick to thank not only her family but also everyone who has believed in her and helped her achieve this goal – “It’s a dream come true”. The Next CCMA Showcase & The Pub Jam is on Sunday, February 20th from 5.30pm and is on the 3rd Sunday of every month at The Pub, 99 Gunnedah Road Tamworth. Sydney Weekender On Channel 7 / Prime Television on Saturday, November 20, some of our CCMA Juniors, together with Felicity Urquhart and Aleyce Simmonds, joined host Mike Whitney in Tamworth to highlight the January Country Music Festival for "Sydney Weekender". Here's a photo from the shoot.
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The Capital Country Music Association is set for revitalisation following the election of a new committee in May (2011).
Committee members elected were Dot Gilchrist, Peg Gilchrist, Diana Jones, Shaza Leigh and Michelle Simmonds.
CCMA junior Ben Hazell (pictured), a TDP graduate, had a fabulous festival, firstly being invited to open the show for Felicity Urquhart at her two Tamworth concerts.
© Copyright 2004, Capital Country Music Association, Tamworth