The 16 year old Waitaki Boys' High School pupil finished runner up in the solo category of the national final in Auckland's Raye Freedman Centre at the weekend.
Already this year, he has won the intermediate section at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, the instrumental and duet sections at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in Australia, and the Timaru regional final of the Smokefreerockquest.
The self taught finger style guitarist, the only act from the South Island to make the 2015 national Smokefreerockquest final, won a $1000 Rockshop voucher for his performance.
First place in the solo section went to Ben Mollison, a guitar and harmonica playing singer/songwriter from Bethlehem College in Tauranga.
The band competition was won by Joe's Van, a group of Mt Maunganui College pupils.
Other results
Best song: El Jay Hall (Cambridge High School); outstanding musicianship: Calum Slee (Buller High School, Westport); lyrics: Ben Mollison (Bethlehem College, Tauranga); women's musicianship: Ruby Fraser (Craighead Diocesan School, Timaru); travel ambassador: Joe's Van (Mt Maunganui College).
