OBERON musician Mickey Pye is on a high after being announced as a grand finalist in country music’s prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 26-year-old will go up against Dana Hassall and Gretta Ziller in the grand final at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on Friday.
Pye was confident going into Sunday night’s final knowing he had years of performance experience behind him, but he still felt nervous when he stepped before the judging panel to perform.
“I'm so used to playing gigs, but it is so different when you're being judged," he said.
“You feel the nerves more, which is something I’m not used to because I've played so many times.”
Pye’s performance impressed not only the judges but the large crowd, who were very vocal when he stepped back out on stage for the announcement of the grand finalists by 1996 Star Maker winner Daren Coggan.
Their appreciation filled Pye with hope, but his confidence faded when his name wasn't one of the first two announced.
When his name was finally called, he was more than excited.
“I’ve been working towards this for five years now and it means the world to me,” he said.
The grand final will kick off in Tamworth at 6.30pm on Friday. Pye, Hassall and Ziller will each take to the stage one last time to prove their worthiness before the life-changing decision is made. The winner will receive a prize package including a recording deal and a new Toyota vehicle.
