Music scholarship concerts celebrate 20 years
Pearl Beach Music Scholarship and Irvine Family Piano Scholarship Concerts celebrated 20 years on Saturday, May 24.
Nineteen students participated in two concerts.
In the morning 12 junior students impressed the audience with their solo performances on a range of instruments including bassoon, violin, piano, flute, vocal, trumpet, and guitar.
The afternoon scholarship concert saw seven students compete with trombonist Anya Sandeman, 17, taking out first place.
Awards with a value of more than $6000 were made for first, second and third, as well as a Rising Star award, and two Peoples Choice awards voted by the enthusiastic audience.
The financial prizes which were donated by members of the Pearl Beach community, including the Irvine family for piano, helps the winners to further their musical studies at the Central Coast Conservatorium.
Adjudicator Patrick Brislan commented: "Performance by each of the students was fantastic, making it extremely difficult to asses, with so much diversity, style and skill of such a high level."
The students were accompanied by pianist and associate artists Ms Liisa Munnukka and Mr Noah Peres.
Performances were also given by scholarship winners from 2024, 2023 and 2012: flautest Elana Sydenham, violinist Kaito Deed and flautist Alyse Faith.
Pearl Beach Progress Association publicity officer Ms Lynne Lillico said that the association, in conjunction with the Central Coast Conservatorium, offered performance opportunity to students who had excelled in their field.
"This year the Pearl Beach Music Scholarship program has been sponsored by members of the community and the Irvine family who continue to sponsor the Piano Scholarship."
Central Coast Conservatorium artistic director Mr Patrick Brennan thanked the Progress Association, the Irvine Family and other donors "as we celebrate 20 years of this remarkable partnership".
"'It is a privilege for the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music to present our finest students where they have the chance to shine before such a supportive and enthusiastic audience," he said.
SOURCE:
Media release, 24 Jun 2025
Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association