Musicians perform for scholarship

The annual Scholarship Competition Concert by young local musicians took place in the Pearl Beach Community Hall on Sunday afternoon May 6.

The Irvine Piano Scholarship was awarded to Christine Chan, and the Pearl Beach Progress Association Scholarship awarded to Jack Owens

Seven competitors, all students of the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, presented an "exciting and wonderfully varied program" under the direction of Conservatorium principal Christopher Bearman, according to Peninsula Choir leader and classical music buff Mr Ivan Kinny of Pearl Beach.

Mr Kinny said the associate artist was pianist Carl Schmidt, who provided "brilliant and sensitive accompaniments" to the young instrumentalists on the Irvine memorial piano.

Two scholarships were awarded to assist the winners to further their musical studies.

"The Irvine Piano Scholarship was awarded to Christine Chan, who delighted with her playing (from memory) of a Chopin nocturne and a prelude by Debussy, 'The Sunken Cathedral'," Mr Kinny said.

"In presenting this award on behalf of his brothers and himself, Dr John Irvine said that he had never heard the Kawai piano played so lovingly and sensitively.

"The audience agreed with him, recalling those qualities especially in the Debussy prelude, which required both great delicacy as well as strength in the organistic chords of the central section, depicting the legendary cathedral rising from the sea and subsiding again."

Six other young artists competed for the scholarship awarded by the Pearl Beach Progress Association.

"Jack Owens, saxophonist, played with great brilliance in items by Bozza and Dubios, combining virtuosic melodic line and sensitive phrasing with dramatic tonal contrasts," Mr Kinny said.

"Selina Foo played her clarinet with impressive poise and breath-control.

"Her Fantasy Piece by Schumann showed a real mastery of tone and volume.

"Violinist Jennifer Stevens reached into the heights of intonation in her playing of an unaccompanied Sarabande by JS Bach, and demonstrated stylistic accord with her accompanist in a brilliant movement by Schubert.

"Joseph Kalou's flute playing was most enjoyable in works by Chopin and Mouquet.

"He showed great dexterity and beauty of tone, extending effortlessly into his high register.

"Jenna Brinkley played her saxophone with confidence and an impressive control of tone and phrasing in the traditional variations of The Carnival of Venice and a lively piece by Pikler.

"Gabrielle Steele's viola, an unusual instrument for a young person, brought the concert to a delightful conclusion.

"Gabrielle played with a warm feeling for her instrument's rich tone, and a stylish appreciation of her chosen Bach Adagio and Allegro and two pieces by Gordon Jacob."

Mr Kinny said the adjudicator for the competition was Patrick Brislan, a "distinguished musician" with a background as horn player in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and as dean of the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide.

Mr Brislan awarded the Pearl Beach Progress Association Scholarship to Jack Owens.

Jack's prize was presented to him by Peter Lazar, who, as a former president of the association, had proposed the establishment of the scholarship.

Press release, 8 May 2007 Ivan Kinny, Pearl Beach