Up-and-coming musician Ruby Holden, of Queanbeyan, has won a national title at the Cooma National Grand Final of the Australian busking championships. 

“Honestly, if you told eight-year-old Ruby that she would be doing this right now, she wouldn’t believe you,” the 17-year-old performer says.

Starting in the Australian Girls Choir at age eight, she says, gave her a helping hand. 

“Over the years, I’ve developed my performance, and my love for music has just grown,” she says. 

“I love writing songs and being able to share my story through music.

“Making sure that people don’t always feel alone, that’s the power of music.” 

Ruby’s style falls into country-pop fusion, although she says she’d like to further explore blues and jazz. 

In 2021, Ruby got her first taste of performing solo at the Sutton Village Markets. 

“I was so nervous,” she says. “But since then, busking has allowed me to develop my performance and get comfortable with performing in front of other people.” 

Last year, after winning the Bombala title, Ruby had a shot at the Cooma championships. Although she didn’t win, she says it was a great opportunity to further refine her skills. 

Winning the Braddon Busking championships in the Secondary Category (13-17 year olds) this year, she was given another shot at the Cooma titles. 

“I didn’t have high hopes,” she says. “I just wanted to go into the day and enjoy it, but the energy was amazing on the street and I won!

“I didn’t believe it had actually happened.”

Now wrapping up her school year at Daramalan College, Ruby’s schedule shows no signs of slowing down with various end-of-year events in the lead up to Christmas. She’s also aiming for a top 10 spot at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. 

“Last year, I was in the top 20 of 530 buskers, so I want to get in the official top 10 to be on the big stage,” she says. 

“I’ll be learning lots of songs over the holidays. It’ll be practice, practice, practice.” 

There won’t be much of a reprieve for Ruby, as she returns to college for her final year of schooling in 2026 as school captain. 

“It’s going to be a big year,” she says. “But I feel like I’m used to the busyness now and I feed off of the energy.”

Juggling commitments to school, studies and music, Ruby says she’s keeping her dreams close, with the goal of one day performing a ticketed concert in Tamworth. 

Although she’s onstage as a solo performer, she’s never been alone, with the help of her favourite roadie and muse, her dad. 

“I think he lives vicariously through me,” she says.

“He’s played in a band since he was young and he’s definitely imparted that on my brother and I.

“My family is so supportive and my dad is always there to carry my guitar or help me when I’m stuck with a chord.

“I’m so grateful that he’s been able to foster my love for music.”

For other up-and-coming musicians, Ruby says it’s important to stay true to yourself.

“Write your songs, play your music and play what you want to play,” she says. 

“You want to be playing things that you love and connect with, because when you put that out into the world, the right people will come in and listen.”