Ten of Australia’s most promising music artists have beaten hundreds of hopefuls from across the nation to become finalists in the Telstra Road to Discovery talent development program, announced at Sydney Olympic Park last week.

The Top 10 Finalists are:
Hayden Calnin - Collingwood, VIC
Melody Feder - Vista, SA
Kelly Menhennett - Barmera, SA
Mardi Pannan - Newtown, NSW
Alice Plumb - Gungahlin, NSW
Andrew Redford - Maroochydore, QLD
Bart Thrupp - Toowoomba, QLD
Christy Wallace - Mount Gambier, SA
Trent Williams - Scarborough, WA
Mia Wray - Noosa, QLD

These 10 aspiring musicians are one step closer to their dream of a professional music career, and will now compete at the Telstra Road to Discovery Final held during the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival on 24 January, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012.

A winning performer and songwriter will be announced in Tamworth and will win a 12-month music mentorship package, which includes a return trip to Nashville, USA.

The finalists were chosen from a group of 18 independent and unsigned artists who performed at the Telstra Road to Discovery Semi-Final as part of a huge entertainment line up at the Sydney Telstra 500 V8 Supercars event. Legendary band Hunters & Collectors reformed for the event, as well as performances by John Farnham, Noiseworks and James Reyne.

Telstra Road to Discovery Ambassadors and ARIA award winning trio, The McClymonts, also performed their first gig on home soil after returning from six months in the US where they recently received the 2011 American Country Music Award for Global Artist of the Year.

The 2012 Telstra Road to Discovery Final will be held at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on Tuesday 24 January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Tickets are available to purchase at http://www.tcmf.com.au/

Image above (L-R): Front Row – Andrew Redford, James Blundell (MC), Mia Wray / Middle Row – Kelly Menhennett, Christy Wallace, Mollie McClymont, Brooke McClymont, Sam McClymont, Bart Thrupp, Melody Feder, Alice Plumb / Back Row – Hayden Calnin, Mardi Pannan, Trent Williams [photo credit: Ted Sealey]