The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has announced that in June 2010 the Australian College of Country Music and the Camerata School of Country Music will join forces and deliver their senior and junior development programs simultaneously This new entity will be branded the 'CMAA Australian Academy of Country Music'

The move comes after detailed plans and discussions between both groups during the past 4 months. The result will see the Australian College of Country Music, which for the past 13 years has taken place in the lead up to the annual Country Music Festival, move to the mid-year time slot. Camerata has traditionally taken place in the June/July school holidays.

Director of Camerata, Joan Douglas, said, "The joining together of the two schools was a simple form of natural progression. Both Camerata and College utilise many of the same industry specialists for master-classes and tuition so by having them operate together we will be able forge ahead and create a new and exciting focus on developing professional Australian country music for all age groups".

President of the CMAA, John Williamson OAM said, "This amalgamation will strengthen our industry. The continued progress that we have made over the past thirty years will surely be pushed further by our young talent coming through the CMAA Australian Academy of Country Music. This can only be good for our unique Australian identity.'

General Manager of the CMAA, Cheryl Hayes said, “The combining of Camerata and College was a decision that was reached after a great level of input and discussion. The newly formed CMAA Australian Academy of Country Music will bring together the very best in talent development specific to the country music genre unrivalled anywhere in the world.

Source: Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA)