Growing up in a small community in north-west NSW has proved no obstacle for an Aboriginal student awarded a prestigious national music scholarship.

Kamilaroi man and Quirindi High School Year 12 student Jackson Worley has received the inaugural One Day in January Scholarship from the Short Black Opera.

The scholarship will allow Jackson to work with Australia's first all-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chamber ensemble, Ensemble Dutala.

The new group has been established by Short Black Opera to promote excellence in instrumental training and opportunity (long term) for aspiring and talented ATSI musicians.

As the recipient of this award, Jackson will travel to Melbourne in January 2021 to participate in the annual One Day in January Summer Intensive program and join members of Ensemble Dutala for their 2021 program of performances.

Jackson, who has just started his HSC year, said he was “over the moon” about receiving the award as it was the first step on his journey to becoming a professional musician.

“To be a professional cellist would be a dream come true,” he said. “Getting this award is so surreal I haven’t got a grasp of it yet.”