TRANS-TASMAN ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR The competition now known as the Trans Tasman Entertainer of the year was introduced the second year of the NI Country Music Festival. Organisers realised that it would take twelve months to put together a competition of high caliber and slot it into the country music calendar of events so that for future competitions, the place in the calendar would always be locked in. With the help of co-ordinator Tracey-Maree, Gaylene Snell and the NICMA committee, the Award was born! Initially four entrants were chosen from the Australian Country Music Festivals and Four from the New Zealand Country Music Festivals. This has slightly changed over the years as some festivals changed their format as there were so many organisers wanting to be part of the Norfolk Island Event. Judges are chosen one each from Australia, New Zealand and Norfolk Island which gives a level playing field for the contestants. Even better is that the judges dont know contestants from the other countries prior to their performance on Norfolk Island so the competition is truly fair. The prize pool was sponsored initially and now it is underwritten by the NICMA. In the early days the NICMA were very fortunate in having a sponsored prize of $5,000 k of recording time donated by Mr. Peter Van Gent. Peter has a production studio in Auckland NZ and Darren Coggan can vouch for Peters professionalism as he took this prize to record his first album. DSilverados providing backing and the lovely Reidy Sisters backing vocals. Special mention here to Rob Galley who was Musical Director for many years and has now gracefully handed over to Mike McCarthy. The trophy was made by Mr. David (Dids) Evans and you will see that it will never disintegrate or fall apart as it is a solid beautiful piece of Norfolk Pine shaped like the island with each winners name engraved on the bottom. It is extremely heavy and Sam McClymont will endorse this as she dropped it on her toe with excitement the night she won, on MainStage and broke her toe! Thank you to Dids and all who have contributed Prizes and assistance in anyway. It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed and that many of our TTEOY Winners have gone on to win Starmaker in Tamworth and Entertainer of the Year in New Zealand, so Norfolk Island must be doing something right! Proud Patron Gaylene Snell will agree, that this is one of the favourite nights during Country Music Week on Norfolk Island. 2014 Proud Winner is Cheryl Anderson from New Zealand, making Cheryl the 20th Trans Tasman Entertainer of the Year! Well done Cheryl. To all the award entrants - well done and keep believing and striving towards the top.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 22:37:26 +0000
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