The 15-year-old guitar student hasn’t stopped grinning since he returned home to Diamond Beach from this year’s eisteddfod with three official accolades under his belt. 

Performing in the instrumental section, he won the senior instrumental championship worth $400, gained the highest aggregate score in the open age division, was awarded one of several Smile Scholarships worth $750 and was presented with the Roma Liggin’s Scholarship after performing at the recent eisteddfod grand concert. Worth $1500, it is the highest accolade within the eisteddfod. 

With $2650 in the bank and a much boosted confidence, he plans to spend the money on a “much awaited acoustic guitar and is looking for some guitar workshops.” Not bad for someone who only started learning the guitar, his first instrument, four years ago at the age of 11. 

“He’s got a cousin who plays who is now at the Conservatorium in Newcastle. Keegan idolised him and was inspired to take it up. Now they really enjoy playing together,” his proud mother Sally said.

Keegan played John Butler’s ‘Ocean’ at the concert after seeing the talented guitarist perform earlier in the year. Butler’s inspiring legacy is closely followed by that of guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. 

“We’re looking for workshops to do to try and expand things.” Keegan now hopes to study music in the HSC and take on some local gigs. 

“Since he’s taken it up, there’s never silence in the family, he just strums away constantly. But it’s just lovely. We were amazed he picked up this really difficult piece [Ocean] but he persevered at it. It’s hard to get him to do anything around the house except for guitar!”

Grateful for her son’s musical passion, Sally thanked the eisteddfod committee and Gary Smith, Keegan’s Forster based guitar teacher. 

“The talent’s not genetic. It just crept up on us, we hadn’t realised the genuine talent he had. Now we have to look at how to further encourage it.”