More fans than Keith Urban

Hamish’s Australian Idol journey

He is a humble country lad who US celebrity Harry Connick Jr jokingly claimed has “more fans than Keith Urban.”

Hamish Guiana is a musician on the rise, having recently appeared on season eight of the televised national singing contest, Australian Idol.

The 2022 school captain welcomed camera crews to Scone Grammar School last year, while Connick Jr also surprised students with a guest appearance.

“I didn’t know where I was going to be coming today and I was so happy to see that I’m coming to a school,” Connick Jr, an Idol judge, told the excited students.

“I look out and I see all these beautiful faces and I’ve been going all over Australia trying to find the most talented singers for the next Australian Idol.

“Do you think that person could be from Scone?”

Hamish certainly hoped that would be the case. Midway through a speech, he was informed he would not be travelling to Sydney to audition for the show. Instead, he would be performing right then and there at the school.

Despite admitting he was “freaking out,” Hamish took Connick Jnr into a music room, grabbed his guitar, and performed a nervy, yet stirring rendition of Niall Horan’s “This Town.”

Connick Jnr was so impressed with the performance, he presented Hamish with a ’golden ticket’. That shiny, gold piece of cardboard granted admission straight into the singing contest’s top 50.

Despite his best efforts, Hamish was unable to progress any further. While it marked the end of his Australian Idol journey, it is just the start of his musical career.

After achieving his HSC and graduating from Scone Grammar School, Hamish was accepted into the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney, where he’ll complete a three-year course.

Before he moves to Sydney, the now 19-year-old continues to regularly share his talent with his beloved local community. He continues to perform gigs around the Upper Hunter, including at the recent Scone Literary Festival.

No matter where his musical dream takes him, Scone will always be home. Hamish is highly active in the local community. He has worked with the Upper Hunter Youth Council and took part in a National Leadership Summit in Adelaide.

In January, Hamish was rewarded for his advocacy with the Upper Hunter Shire Young Person of the Year. The award nomination highlighted his respect for others and his contributions to discussions.

With his leadership and musical talents combined, Hamish’s fanbase will only continue to grow. We look forward to seeing what comes next.

Congratulations Hamish.