![THE BIG STAGE: Bathurst Academy of Music manager Mickey Pye [centre] with Belle Whitwell, Tameka Kennedy, Ash Sproule and Jenna Orpwood. The four musicians entered the Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands competition as Cheviot Drive. Photo: SUPPLIED](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xry9xtRQu9u36zRV2j5976/1290ab19-a3e0-4103-8273-8b6449cfb980.jpg/r0_191_2048_1342_w576_h298_fmax.webp "THE BIG STAGE: Bathurst Academy of Music manager Mickey Pye [centre] with Belle Whitwell, Tameka Kennedy, Ash Sproule and Jenna Orpwood. The four musicians entered the Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands competition as Cheviot Drive. Photo: SUPPLIED")
A selection of performers from the Bathurst Academy of Music [BAM] gained a significant amount of experience during the 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.
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Seven BAM performers attended the festival, and participated in a variety of programs designed to grow their status as musicians.
The performers who participated were Tameka Kennedy, Ash Sproule, Belle Whitwell, Isabelle Cobcroft, Cleo Cheney, Jasmine Gold and Jenna Orpwood.
The success of Ms Kennedy at the festival has already been widely recognised, with the musician winning the Coca-Cola Battle of the New Stars competition.
Ms Kennedy forms one half of local duo Cheviot Drive with fellow BAM performer Ash Sproule and together, they made the grand final of the Coca-Cola Battle of the Bands competition.
![BUSKING: Bathurst Academy of Music manager Mickey Pye [far right] with Jenna Orpwood, Belle Whitwell, Jasmine Gold, Tameka Kennedy and Cleo Cheney. Photo: SUPPLIED](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xry9xtRQu9u36zRV2j5976/5d2c459a-c1ca-4433-9b54-9e4975258a7a.jpg/r0_260_1461_1049_w576_h298_fmax.webp "BUSKING: Bathurst Academy of Music manager Mickey Pye [far right] with Jenna Orpwood, Belle Whitwell, Jasmine Gold, Tameka Kennedy and Cleo Cheney. Photo: SUPPLIED")
"Ms Kennedy and Ms Sproule both teach at BAM, and provide outstanding tuition for our students," BAM manager Mickey Pye said.
Mr Pye noted the achievements of Belle Whitwell and Isabelle Cobcroft, who gained some vital performance experience through a variety of competitions.
"Both Belle and Isabelle competed in the Coca-Cola Battle of the Young Stars competition, the Mount Franklin Junior Talent Quest and the Aristocrat Country Entertainer of the Year," he said.
"They both gave it their all and were warmly received by the crowds they performed for."
Belle is a member of local rock band Sweet Revenge along with Jenna Orpwood.
The pair also joined Cheviot Drive for their performances throughout the festival.
Fellow students Cleo Cheney and Jasmine Gold participated in the busking program at the festival, which aided in their musical development.
Mr Pye, who won the Toyota Star Maker competition in 2015, said the festival is a great event for emerging country musicians to get their name out there.
"For anyone that's serious about building a career in music, they've got to start early and build their connections," he said.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
