Tori with NSW Premier Kristina Keneally - Photo: Billy Joe
Please contact mailto: management@toridarke.com for high resolution
Press Release - IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 25 January, 2010
Tori with NSW Premier Kristina Keneally - Photo: Billy Joe
Please contact mailto: management@toridarke.com for high resolution
After an outstanding 2009, Country Music singer/songwriter Tori Darke continued to shine at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, winning the NSW NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR, GOLDEN MEDALION AWARD.(WARP – World Alliance for Radio Presenters).
“It has been an amazing Tamworth Festival for me this year. Performing onstage at the Entertainment Centre in the Grand Finals of both Toyota Star Maker and Telstra Road To Tamworth, with some of the industry’s highest regarded musicians was simply awesome. Being named as a Top 5 Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist and Runner-Up in the Telstra Road To Tamworth Songwriting Grand Final was an incredible honor.”
This was Tori’s busiest Tamworth Festival yet, with performances at The Maton Showcase, The Young Guns Concert, ladies of Country Concert plus her major performance to a packed house at the New Capital Theatre as support act for Melbourne based band Jetty Road. Tori finished off the festival by rocking the house out to a fantastic crowd at the Central Hotel.
The Australian College of Country Music and the Camerata School of Country Music have now merged to create the new CMAA Australian Academy of Country Music.
Having graduated from Camerata in 2008 and the Senior College in 2009, Tori was asked to speak with the NSW Premier Kristina Keneally after the announcement of a $33,000 funding for five scholarships to the new Academy, which was definitely a highlight. During their conversation, Ms Keneally asked Tori how she had benefited from her experiences at both Camerata and at the Senior College:
“It was inspirational to have attended both the Camerata College and the CMAA College of Country Music. Having access to and learning from some of the best in the industry, including Troy Cassar-Daley and Felicity Urquhart, who helped form the foundation to encourage young up-and-coming artists to enter the college, gave me the opportunity to be involved in Toyota Star Maker and Telstra Road To Tamworth. The educational structure of the program was a great learning curve, one which I have benefited from immensely”, says Tori.
In 2010, Tori plans to visit Nashville for more songwriting and pre-production work on her forthcoming debut album.