Professional Development

South Australian Showcase 2006
The main objectives of Showcase are to encourage the continued pursuit of excellence and professionalism in country music, actively seek and help develop new talent and also to focus both the Government and community attention on our genre as an integral part of the Australian music culture. This has been achieved through Australia’s only professional development program in country music.

This special concert is the only event of its kind, in any genre of music, held in Australia and is literally a showcase of South Australian talent, designed to recognize the outstanding skills of SA’s country music performers and to present the best of this State’s emerging artists.

Showcase provides a vital professional development opportunity for these talented new artists and gives audiences the opportunity to see and hear the stars of tomorrow.

As our special guests this year(2006), we welcomed some very special South Australians being Dave Prior, Genevieve Spalding, John O'Dea, The Rustlers and Cat Southern. Our special guests are not only brought in for performances but they also mix with and mentor our young artists backstage as part of their assignment.

The SA Showcase also gives SACCM the opportunity to announce the winners of the SACCM Industry Award, The Rocky Page Memorial Scholarship and the APRA Songwriting competition.

The prestigious 2006 Industry Award was presented to Greg Bunnett, for his outstanding service to the country music industry in South Australia.

The Showcase concept has proved to be an exceptional opportunity to highlight and foster new talent in our state and genre. It continues to be the annual finale to artists’ progress through our talent quest programme and a stepping-stone to future success in the entertainment industry.

The Showcase Band is made up of specially selected musicians from the country music scene and was again directed by Anthony Stewart, with Starmaker finalist and UK Songwriter winner Alison Hams on bass, award winning guitarist Craig Stringer on lead guitar, multiple Golden Guitar winner and Australian Banjo Champion Trev Warner, Paul Orchard on drums, Kevin Bergen on steel pedal, and the backing harmonies of Tracy Stewart and Steven Sherrah. This showcase band helps make our artists’ performances one to remember.

The artists are selected because of their outstanding performances throughout the last 12 months.

These artists were (2006); Senior Champion of Champions – Vanessa Lee Shirley, Junior Champion of Champions – Kristal Collins and a member of the Junior Country Crossover (Candy Latham)..

It is important to note that many outstanding country music artists have been through the South Australian talent circuit and scholarship system which has been the stepping stone for their careers.

Showcase 2007 Pictures, Showcase 2006 Pictures, Showcase 2005 Showcase Pictures
Report on 2004 Showcase. Pictures,   Showcase 2003 Pictures,   Showcase 2002 Pictures, Showcase 2001 Program, Showcase 1999 Program, Showcase 1996 Program

Champion of Champions

2007 Champion of Champions:- Press Release, Details, Major Awards and Norfolk Island Festival Prize.

On Saturday 29th of July 2006, the South Australian Council for Country Music hosted it’s annual Champion of Champions competition at the Burnside Town Hall.

Champion of Champions is a special Council initiative to find the best Senior and Junior artist we have in the state. The Senior Champion is awarded an excellent career development program including performances at the Buttercup show in Tamworth, Queensland Champion of Champions, and fund permitting, entry to the Norfolk Island Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year Award.

Contestants in Champion of Champions are the winners of first or second place in a solo vocal event at a recognised talent quest in South Australia. The event raises the standard of the performances in a more professional atmosphere and is another step up the ladder in developing an artist’s career.

The industry professionals take notice of the upcoming performers, especially the winners.

The South Australian Council for Country Music looks forward to continuing the promotion and encouragement of performers via the SA Champion of Champions.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2007 COMPETITION GUIDELINES

Winners

2008 Senior Champion of Champions Kristal Collins, Senior Female (18 and over) winner Kristal Collins, Senior Male (18 and over) winner Danny Gyory
         Junior Champion of Champions Mahalia Fox, Junior 17 & Under winner Malhalia Fox, Junior 13 & Under winner Gabrelle Ballard
         see also here for other results and pictures. Fred Bowen's report is here.

2007 Senior Champion of Champions Tiffney Stroh, Senior Female (18 and over) winner Tiffney Stroh, Senior Male (18 and over) winner Darin Warner
         Junior Champion of Champions Natasha Weatherill, Junior 17 & Under winner Candy Latham, Junior 13 & Under winner Nathaniel O'Brien
         see also here for other results and links to artists plus pictures.

2006 Senior Champion of Champions Vanessa Lee Shirley, Senior Female (17 and over) winner Vanessa Lee Shirley, Senior Male (17 and over) winner Danny Gyory
         Junior Champion of Champions Kristal Collins, Junior 16 & Under winner Kristal Collins, Junior 13 & Under winner Nathaniel O'Brien
         see also here for other results and links to artists/Official Press release etc.

2005 Senior Champion of Champions Emily Reed   Open Female Champ Emily Reed, Open Male Champ Warren Milera
         Junior Champion of Champions Tiffney Stroh  Junior 16 & Under Champ Tiffney Stroh, Junior 13 & Under Champ Catelin Dorombozo
         see also here for other results and links to artists/Official Press release etc.

2004 Senior Champion of Champions Leah Briggs   see also here for other results and links to artists/Official Press release etc.
         Junior Champion of Champions Catherine Sumner

2003 Senior Champion of Champions Mercia Manners Open Male Kenny Buckskin  Write up in Aug 2003 Prelude
          Junior Champion of Champions Loni Manners, Junior Under 13 Tiffney Stroh, Junior Under 16 Katherine Sumner

2002 Senior Champion of Champions Kristy Cox, Senior Male Champion of Champions Andrew Sellars, Senior Female Mercia Manners
          Junior Champion of Champions Sarah Downs, U/16 Champion Sarah Downs, U/13 Sarah Everson check August 2002 Prelude for report

2001 Senior Champion of Champions Jake Nickolai, Senior Male Champion of Champions Andrew Sellars, Senior Female Mercia Manners
          Junior Champion of Champions Kristy Cox, U/16 Champion Ben Harris, U/13 Catherine Sumner See Aug 2001 Prelude if you have a copy somewhere!

2000 Senior Champion of Champions Megan Laurie, Senior Male Champion of Champions Jake Nickolai, Senior Female ?
          Junior Champion of Champions Vanessa Lee Shirley, U/16 Champion Ben Harris, U/13 Sarah Downs See Aug 2000 Prelude if you have a copy somewhere!

1999 Senior Champion of Champions Allan Webster, Senior Male Champion of Champions Scott Everett, Senior Female Tarina Everett
         Jrn Gospel Andrew Sellars, Snr Gospel Tarina Everett
          Junior Champion of Champions Andrew Sellars, U/16 Champion Kerby Hengen, U/13 Chellum Lenartowitz

1998 Senior Champion of Champions Kathryn Campbell (info from Allan Webster), Junior Champion of Champions Angela Easson (info from Alison Hams)

Can anyone please email the full results for 1998 to the webmaster, Thanks.

APRA South Australian Song of the Year Awards
The APRA South Australian Country Song of the Year is a joint project between the South Australian Council for Country Music Inc and the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA/AMCOS). In that it is run by SACCM and sponsored by APRA/AMCOS.

The APRA South Australian Country Song of the Year is open to all songwriters resident in South Australia. This project is designed to promote excellence in songwriting in South Australia and give our young songwriters an opportunity to compete and have their non-published works heard by professionals.

There are two sections being Traditional (bush, ballads, folk) and Modern (commercial, contemporary). To promote country music, each song submitted may be any style of country music within these two sections.

The APRA South Australian Country song of the Year is run annually and the awards are presented on stage at the prestigious “South Australian Showcase”

Efforts are being made to publicise works by South Australian artists and make known to major artists of their compositions for the development of recorded songs and possibly even recording contracts.

Guidelines and Application form for 2008 APRA South Australian Song of the Year Awards are here.

Winners
2007 Showcase APRA Awards
Traditional Section
   Finalists (in alphabetical order):- 'Fall in Love' - Tiffney Stroh, 'Million Miles' - Leah Briggs, 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo' - Steve Foster.
  Winner 'Million Miles" - Leah Briggs
  
 Modern Section
    Finalists (in alphabetical order):- 'Amasing Smile' - John O'Dea, 'Let It Rain' - Tiffney Stroh, 'One Step At A Time' - Jessie Che & Mark Drilling
   Winner 'Amazing Smile'- John O'Dea

2006 Photo of those at Showcase here
Traditional Section
    1st - "I Guess I'm Gonna Need Somebody Else" - Steve Foster
    2nd - "Big Rig" - Len O'Connor
    3rd - "In a Sailing Ship Called Fatina" - Vivienne Lewis

 Modern Section
     1st - "Down That Road" - Jessie Che & Mistin Pugh
     2nd - "The King Of Gone" – Dave Prior
     3rd - "All Country" - Warren Johncock

    Overall winner Jessie Che & Mistin Pugh
            

2005 Traditional Section "Old Rusty Ute" by John O'Dea
            2nd "Country Local" – Len O’Connor, 3rd – "Silver Tears" - Brian Howell
         Modern Section "Choices" by John O'Dea
            2nd "Sitting in the Car" – Robbie Dalzell, 3rd "Two timing Blues" – Robbie Dalzell

2004 Traditional Section was Len O'Connor, "Down on the Farm",
            2nd Fiona Karamanlidis "I'm Almost Home", 3rd Brian Howell "Trucky's Diner"
         Modern Section was Brendan Beleski, "I'd Love You Still"
            2nd Samantha Beak & Paul Cooper "15 Days", 3rd Mercia Manners "I've Been Broken Better"

2003 Traditional Section was Alan Webster, "Grandpa's Words",
            2nd Ted Roberts - The Berry Ferry, 3rd Leonard J O'Connor - The Ballad of my little man
         Modern Section was Mercia Manners - Hey there you
            2nd Loni Manners - Silly me", 3rd Alan Webster - "Take your passion higher"

2002 ??? Can anyone please email the results to the webmaster, Thanks

2001 ??? Can anyone please email the results to the webmaster, Thanks

2000 Traditional Section was Mark Moffatt "True Colours",
         Modern Section was Robbie Dalzell, "The Long Way Home"
            Highly Recmmended Awards" to Alison Hams, Mark Drilling, Robbie Dalzell and David Croser.

1999 Song of the Year "Give Me Some Time" written by Steven Sherrah and Richard Porteous.

1998 Song of the Year (first year awared) was "If you believe" written by Steven Sherrah and Richard Porteous.

Winners before 2000 ?, 2002 2001 2000 Can anyone please email the results to the webmaster, Thanks

Rocky Page Memorial Scholarship
The Rocky Page Memorial Scholarship commemorates the life of the late Rocky Page, who founded the Riverland Country Music Festival. His knowledge, hard work and dedication to the promotion of Country Music, particularly in rural areas will be remembered and is celebrated by the recipients of the Rocky Page Memorial Scholarship. It is a scholarship which is extremely valuable to upcoming artists within the Country Music scene.

The Rocky Page Memorial Scholarship has allowed eleven young artists during the past eleven years to attend the Country Music Association of Australia's Country Music College in Tamworth. Five have achieved a high degree of success within their chosen field. Note 2008 direct applications to the College will close Friday 29th August 2008.

Young South Australian country music singers and musicians eighteen years of age and over are invited to apply for the Rocky Page Memorial Scholarship. Applications to SACCM (PO Box 31, Plympton, SA 5038) for the 2008 College will close on Friday the 31st October 2008. Use the forms available here.

Winners
1997 - Jedd Hughes
1998 - Kathryn Campbell
1999 - Craig Stringer
2000 - Jake Nickolai
2001 - Bradley Bergen
2002 - Travis List
2003 - Kristy Cox
2004 - Tammy - Lee Latham
2005 - Jessie Che
2006 - Vanessa Lee Shirley
2007 - Shaun Wegener

Industry Award Winners
1997 - Barry Norman
1998 - Helen Downer
1999 - Robyn MacIntosh
2000 - Lorraine Darling
2001 - Wally Sparrow
2002 - Graeme Hugo
2003 - Lorraine Wakefield
2004 - John George
2005 - Peter Miller
2006 - Greg Bunnett
2007 - John Sharp

Cindy Shelton Memorial Award.

Cindy Shelton Memorial Scholarship 2008

To all Prospective Applicants.

Once again we are inviting artists to apply for this prestigious scholarship and list below the required necessities.

• Applicants must be 18 years or younger at the commencement date of the Camerata College ie. 1st July, 2008.
• The successful applicant must be accompanied to College by a parent or guardian.
• The successful applicant is obliged to attend the “Hats Off to Tamworth” Festival, which will be held the week after Camerata. ie. July 6th to 9th, 2008.
• Applicants must complete the Camerata Entry Form, (which is available for download at http://www.tamworthcamerata.com/information.html) and enclose with their entry a demo CD/DVD with at least two songs, a 6 x 4inch photograph, and a
• 1 x A4 page biography covering any achievements etc.
• The successful applicant must be prepared on their return to SA from the College, to contribute to a SACCM workshop about their experiences at the College.
• All applications must be lodged no later than the 11th April, 2008. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
• This scholarship has a monetary value of $3,000.00, College fees are paid by SACCM and the balance is paid to the winner to cover travel and accommodation expenses.
• Any applicant who needs to obtain a demo CD may contact the following:- Anthony Stewart at REDBRICK MUSIC, 08 8377 2263, or TGR PRODUCTIONS (Loxton) 088584 1128.

The Cindy Shelton Memorial Award was established by Arts SA in 2002 as an annual (for four years) country music scholarship to enable a young SA country musician to attend the Tamworth Camerata College . Cindy Shelton was a tireless worker for Country Music in South Australia. She was Chief Executive Officer for the South Austalian Council for Country Music for a time. She had a County Muisic program on 5UV (now Radio Adelaide on 101.5). Cindy tragically lost her fight with cancer in December 2001. Winners of the award :- 2002 - Sara Downs 2003 - Vaness Lee Shirley 2004 - Sarah Griffin 2005 - Tiffney Stroh 2006 - Emily Reed 2007 - Candy Latham 2008 - Kristal Collins   See below for more on Cindy.

Benefits of the Tamworth Camerata…
1. It is a training opportunity for young artists.
2. It allows them to train and interact with their peers.
3. It allows them to meet and network with other young artists and musicians from around Australia.
4. It helps give them confidence and a sense of belonging.
5. It helps them develop a career path.
6. It allows parents/guardians to get a better understanding of the industry and how to work with and help their children develop career paths.
7. It allows industry personnel to discover future potential talent.
8. It allows some young people the opportunity to travel interstate and look outside their square.
9. It is another great opportunity for South Australians to help our young artists develop.
10. It creates a goal for young artists in our state to aim for.

Camerata is now fully booked every year and we are fortunate that the Country Music Association of Australia save a spot for our South Australian who is awarded the Cindy Shelton Scholarship. It is very important that we continue the Cindy Shelton Memorial Scholarship for the young talent.

Adjudication
    Supply adjudicators for talent quests.

Hints and Tips

• Introduction to Music
• The Do's and Don't of Writing your Bio
• Microphone Technique
• You Too Could Be A Compere!
• Chord Charts and Timing
• Judges & Judging Sheets (by Alison Hams added Sept 2006)
• Writing a Media Release

SA Country Music Month (Nov 2006)

• A new project of the Council, the aims of this project are to:
• Promote Country Music to a wider Audience
• Promote independent artists who have had involvement with SACCM
• Record and release a compilation CD featuring a theme song
• Approach radio stations to play our CD and support SA Country Music Month
• Advertise the up and coming South Australian Showcase

The sub-committee formed will manage the project, first by inviting artists who wish to promote their own CD to forward to the Council a sample track to be considered for the compilation. Gary Burrows and Brendan Beleski will join with other accomplished artists to record a themwe song, which will feature on the CD.

It is envisaged that an initial run of 500 CD’s would be pressed and promoted to Radio Stations and retail stores in South Australia.

It is planned to pay for the recording from the proceeds of the CD sale, to provide 200 CD’s for promotion and to then share the profits of the sale of the remaining CD’s by paying an amount per track to the owners and the balance to SACCM.

Would you like to be purchase the original, independent CD launched to celebrate South Australian Council for Country Music’s “November is New Country Music Month” Click Here for the Purchacing Application Form. The form includes the track information. NOW ONLY $10 (Dec 07) or pay and extra $10 when you renew your membership.

2007 South Australian Country Compilation CD Project Suspended - on in 2008?

Are you an independent artist or band performing in the country / roots genre in South Australia?
Would you like to be part of an original, independent CD launched to celebrate South Australian Council for Country Music’s
“November is New Country Music Month”
If you have two recorded, broadcast quality, radio friendly songs you are encouraged to submit your songs for consideration.
APPLICATION FORM. The application deadline is Friday 24th August 2007.

Audience Development

Prelude

The main thrust of the SACCM Audience Development Program is via the publication and distribution of South Australia’s only professional Country Music Newsletter, “Prelude” and the Gig Guide. Both are mailed out to around 530 people every month and helps keep them informed on current Country Music affairs, events and record releases.

Prelude is the only professional Country Music publication printed here in SA. The only other sources of information are the club newsletters and several interstate magazines, which have limited distribution and readership in SA.

Prelude is also distributed to important industry personnel interstate so they are kept informed of our progress and development here in SA.

Website and Gig Guide
The objective of the SACCM Website, complete with Gig Guide, is to provide a state-wide information service to people and organisations interested in the enjoyment and promotion of Country Music in South Australia.

The Website was originally set up by Ben Sparrow. Ian Fisk took over as webmaster early in 2002.

The project involves the continuing updating of the website to include: