(Photo: Supplied)
February 1, 2023
Former Kingaroy State High School student Natalia Phillips-Petersen made a big impression amongst her musical peers recently at Tamworth.
Natalia, 22, was invited to take part in the Aboriginal Showcase event, from January 15-19, by well-known singer Buddy Knox.
Buddy, the son of country music legend Roger, has earned a reputation for mentoring upcoming young singers.
Natalia admits she was a bit nervous singing at her first big event.
“I sang at a few Flair concerts during high school and at NAIDOC events on the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay and Cherbourg,” she said.
But in Tamworth, Natalia sang on the big stage, performing the Patsy Cline classic “Crazy” and Lee Ann Womack’s 2004 hit, “I May Hate Myself In The Morning”.
Wanita, dubbed “the renegade Queen of Honkytonk”, saw Natalia’s performance and invited her on stage at her own gig.
“It was such a good week, an amazing time,” Natalia said.
She rushed back from Tamworth just in time to sing the hymn, “How Great Thou Art”, at the Cherbourg funeral service for much-loved local singer, Aunty Lillian Gray.
Natalia has now set her sights on taking part in the Star Maker competition next year, practising guitar and hoping to start writing her own songs.
