The Country Music Association of Australia has announced the second round of students accepted into The Academy including Potato Point's, Alison Clapson. Alison will be attending as part of the instrumental course.
The Academy senior course is a two-week intensive music and business course run in Tamworth prior to the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. Classes run from January 4-18 and students learn from the cream of the crop of Australian music industry professionals.
Alison Clapson is a lover of all things music and says she is lucky to be living at Potato Point.
Alison said of the announcement "I have an appreciation for all kinds of music although my favourite genres would be country and folk music. I consider myself as a singer song writer and have been playing guitar for 15 years, and the last 2 years I have found a new passion and pleasure in playing bass guitar.
"I make sure I always have time for music daily, which not only has provided comforting enjoyment but has been a saviour to myself through the last decade with unexpected personal loss of family members. Through this I have vented through not only song writing but experimenting in other instruments and their sounds."
For the first time in The Academy’s history, successful students will be announced as they are accepted to the course, rather than being announced in one group, to encourage prospective students to apply as soon as possible. The accepted students hail from as far away as India for the first time. Indian country singer, Ricky Cash, received the John Minson Scholarship to attend, and Harriet Kelly, of Hillston, is attending on a Tamworth Regional Council scholarship. “The Academy is a premier educational opportunity for those wanting a career in the music industry,” The Academy director Lyn Bowtell said. “By announcing the successful students as they are accepted, it builds the excitement for their upcoming Academy experience and encourages those who may be considering applying, to complete their applications early. We welcome applications from everyone considering a career in music.” The Academy general manager Roger Corbett said students found their tribe during each course, and the education they received and relationships they formed during their time together were invaluable, with most groups staying in contact for years, even decades after they’d graduated. “As well as the world-class tutors, songwriters, and industry professionals that the students are able to meet and learn from, the relationships they form are priceless for their development as artists,” he said. “The education that students receive at The Academy cannot be found anywhere else.”
