Mackay Campus jazz graduate Nathaniel Andrew is banking on Masters level study in America to open even more doors and career possibilities.

Thanks to CQUniversity's help funding his successful audition trip to the USA in January, the talented bass guitarist is heading off this month (September) to undertake his postgrad study at the University of Cincinnatti in Ohio.

Nathaniel (left) in band mode

His experience working with industry professionals in Mackay and elsewhere (including Hamilton Island) should help equip him for latest opportunity.

"This course allows me to further my education in the jazz field and later opens other possibilities like teaching in higher institutions," he said. "The course is more an introduction into how to teach music at a university level."

Nathaniel will be able to chose from classes including piano tuition; jazz and latin ensembles; music theory; recording and technical.

He's also looking forward to the visiting artist masterclasses.

"This year, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz Centre Orchestra and the Dave Liebman Group will be Visiting UC.  These guys are heavy weights in the world of jazz," Nathaniel said.

"Another positive of UC is that because it is such a big city, there are plenty of world class acts travelling through all the time."