Scholarships won at Pearl Beach concerts
Students from Gosford and Erina have won scholarships in concerts held at Pearl Beach Memorial Hall on Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23.
The scholarships were provided at the Pearl Beach Progress Association and the Irvine family after a weekend of music performed by students from the Central Coast Conservatorium.
Winner of the Irvine Family Piano Scholarship was Chris Chen, a Year 11 student at Central Coast Grammar School at Erina Heights.
He won with a rendition of Beethoven's Sonata Op.13 No.8 in C minor Pathetique 1st movement and Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu (Op. 66).Winner of the Pearl Beach Senior Music Scholarship was flautist Kayla Lush, a Year 11 student at ET Australia Secondary College in Gosford.
She played Ballade by Philippe Gaubert.
The People's Choice award went to 14-year-old violinist Kaito Deed.
The Junior Showcase concert for solo instrument and vocal performances by the Conservatorium's junior students allowed the younger musicians to "perform with focus, passion and conviction" in a non-competitive environment.
The showcase included 16 students with ages ranging from eight years old.
Guest performers this year were the 2020 Irvine Piano winner James Zhang and vocalist Bee Haslam, winner of the Pearl Beach 2019 scholarship.
Accompanist for the two days of music was Noah Peres.
The annual Scholarship concert has been jointly sponsored by the Pearl Beach Progress Association and the Irvine Family since the inaugural concert held in May 2005.
Central Coast Conservatorium artistic director Mr Patrick Brennan said: "This event is an excellent opportunity for Conservatorium students to perform for their local community and deliver truly breath taking performances."
He said the prize money would help the scholarship winners further their musical studies at the Conservatorium.
SOURCE:
Media release, 2 Jun 2021
Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association