Mountaingrass and ABOTMA
Young Performer Grant
The ABOTMA Young Performer of the Year Grant was established in 2018. It is funded from the proceeds of the ABOTMA raffle held each year at Mountaingrass.
The purpose of the grant is to encourage young musicians who play Bluegrass and Appalachian Old-Time music. The funds are intended to be used by the recipient towards the costs of attending the Mountaingrass festival. A season ticket is part of the grant.
By attending Mountaingrass we anticipate that the recipient will benefit from tuition via workshops, get performing experience, and gain exposure to a larger community of bluegrass and old time musicians and music lovers.
The recipients of the first Younger Performer of the Year grant was Rhodeworks. A group of talented young performers from New Zealand who received a grant to enable them to attend and perform at Mountaingrass in 2018. At the time of the award Rhodeworks members were the Frangos-Rhodes family members Laurence (17), Sam (15) and Nate (12).
No grant was awarded in 2020, 2021 & 2022. The Mountaingrass Festival was not held in 2020 & 2021 due to circumstances outside of the committee's control (the 'COVID' years).
Young Performer Grant Recipient 2026 - Lucy Kammermann
The ABOTMA Young Performer of the Year grant was awarded to Lucy Kammermann in 2026. A little about Lucy follows.
Lucy Kammermann's love for folk music began at a young age, and since attending the Adelaide Scottish Fiddle Club from age 10, she has deeply absorbed the music, traditions and techniques of the folk world. From her beginnings in the Scottish and Irish scene, she branched into Bluegrass-style performance with Andrew Clermont's Supper Club, and has spent the last decade performing and teaching at a variety of music at festivals across SA, NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Over the past year and a half Lucy has devoted herself to Bluegrass, performing both traditional and new-styles with The Borough, and more than holding her own with those talented musicians. At Tamworth this year, Lucy also won the 2026 Young Fiddler of the Year Award.
Although only 23 years old, Lucy confidently plays a hard-driving fiddle, featuring imaginative solos and rock-solid backup, all with superb tone, timing and intonation that would've pleased Bill Monroe. She clearly enjoys playing, and makes it look effortless. There's little doubt, Lucy has a great career ahead of her.
Lucy performed at Mountaingrass in 2025 with The Borough from Queensland (proving that music doesn't recognise State boundaries).
Young Performer Grant Recipient 2025 - George Teasdell
Growing up in Port Macquarie, George describes starting his music career as a three-year-old child ‘playing’ Eagles tunes on a ukulele. “After this stumbling, open-string smacking early childhood, I managed to get piano lessons at seven and since then I’ve been a bit more musically sane.” A year-long obsession with the discography of Chris Thile led him to drive across country to acquire a mandolin at 16. He hasn’t put it down since and, building on the music of such heroes as Thile, Gillian Welch, and Béla Fleck, he strives to be a lifelong listener as much as performer. At 21 George was studying classical mandolin under Dr Stephen Lalor, George is the concertmaster of both the Sydney Mandolin Orchestra and the 70-piece annual FAME Festival orchestra. At the same time, he plays and writes progressive acoustic music in several Bluegrass bands and duos. George has featured with The Dempsey Brothers at Mountaingrass and Dorrigo festivals where he has also been an animated presence in jam circles. George was surprised and excited to receive the award. “Wow, I am incredibly honoured to have received this … this is not the email I was expecting to receive on a Monday afternoon!”
George performed at Mountaingrass in 2025 with both The Dempsey Brothers and Charley Castle and The Boys in The Well.
Holly Dunn was awarded the grant in 2024.
Pictured here with her very proud father Marc Dunn.
Young Performer Grant Recipient 2024 - Holly Dunn
Holly Dunn came to the ABOTMA Committee's attention with an outstanding performance on the walk-up stage in 2022 with Daniel Watkins and Justin Vilchez. Holly was just 16 at the time and was already flat-picking guitar like a professional. Holly is now studying music and music composition and has continued her interest in Bluegrass music by regular attendance at Mountaingrass.
In 2024 Holly appeared on stage with Paddy Montgomery and the Davidson Brothers as part of her showcase performance and presentation as Young Performer of the Year. Holly was presented with some generous gifts from our sponsors Audio Technica (USB microphone and headset) and D'Addario - guitar accessories pack including a snap on guitar strap . Holly also appeared on the acoustic concert in the Old Courthouse Theatre where she performed an original composition.
Young Performer Grant Recipient 2019 - Amy Ryan
Amy Ryan was 11 when she first attended the Mountaingrass festival. The committee were highly impressed by her enthusiasm and willingness to learn and get up on the walkup stage. Since receiving the grant Amy's career has gone from strength to strength including being selected to attend the Kruger Brothers Academy in 2020 (although her attendance was delayed until 2024). Read more on Amy Ryan Music here.
Young Performer Grant Recipients 2018 - Rhodeworks
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The recipients of the first Young Performer of the Year grant was Rhodeworks, a group of talented young performers from New Zealand. They came to Mountaingrass in 2018. At the time of the award Rhodeworks were the Frangos-Rhodes family members Laurence (17), Sam (15) and Nate (12). They were performing at festivals throughout New Zealand and Australia and in 2017 were the recipients of the Frank Winter award for their outstanding musical and vocal talents.
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