General News
14 September, 2023
Celebration of the region’s musical talent
SIBLINGS took out the top prize in this year’s Jean Wood Memorial Music Scholarship, which featured inaugural awards for legacy entrants.
SIBLINGS took out the top prize in this year’s Jean Wood Memorial Music Scholarship, which featured inaugural awards for legacy entrants.
Framlingham brother-sister duo Ariana and Andrew Taylor took out this year’s awards in the senior and junior categories respectively.
Ariana, 13, has been playing piano for around eight years and is also learning to play the clarinet as a second instrument.
She said her recognition through the scholarship was exciting as she has enjoyed a string of success this year.
“I feel I’ve made a lot of achievements in the past 12 months which feels really good,” she said,
“I’ve won a few medals and some ribbons at the Hamilton eisteddfod, so being able to play my pieces to other people and get recognition is good.
“Winning with Andrew was pretty good and we can go celebrate with each other.”
Andrew, 12, said he had been learning piano since around the same time as his sister and enjoyed seeing the improvements they had both made.
“I feel really good – I’m glad I was able to play and I’m quite proud of myself,” he said.
“I like entertaining people and I’m happy I put my best foot forward.
“I like playing pieces with connections to the things I know,” he said.
“I played Jessica’s Theme because I can recite the Banjo Paterson poem The Man From Snowy River.”
Jean Wood Memorial Music Scholarship committee president Jo Kenna said the Taylor siblings had made a strong impression on the judges.
“They sparkled, both of them,” she said.
“They were so enthusiastic, confident and at ease.
“Under interview conditions, both of them responded very positively and conveyed their enjoyment of music.”
This year’s awards took on a special twist with the introduction of Alumni awards, celebrating those who had previously earned recognition through the awards and their dedication to music.
Legacy recipients Maurice Martin, Nikki McKenzie and Stacey Riches returned to the awards over the weekend to wind back the clock with performances.
Mr Martin said performing at the Noorat Presbyterian Church for the committee was moment of déjà vu.
“So many old memories came flooding back,” he said.
“I played on the exact same guitar and equipment as I had used.
“It was weird to play again, in the same setting, standing in exactly the same spot.
“It was good to be able to come back and play again.”
It has been 10 years since Camperdown’s Stacey Riches was recognised for her bagpipe playing, winning the junior award when she was 11 years old.
Ms Riches has now been playing the bagpipe for 13 years, competing across the state and in New Zealand in 2017.
She said returning to the Jean Wood Memorial Music Scholarship was a moment to reflect on how far she had come.
“I don’t think I’ve seen any of the committee since, so it’s nice to see everyone again and to have the chance to play,” she said.
It had been 12 years since a quiet, shy Nikki Nuske impressed the judges with the piano skills she was learning from Terang’s Susan Keane and showcasing to residents at May Noonan.
This year she returned Nikki McKenzie, performing with her family, including husband and daughter, watching on in support.
“It’s very humbling to be recognised,” she said.
“We’ve come a long way in music around here.
“It’s been 12 years, and listening to what I had said in my original application showed I have ticked a lot of things off my list.
“It’s a lovely recognition, and a lovely environment, but also rewarding to see the award continue to grow and being handed on to the next generation of kids.”
Another special award was presented to Geelong-based adjudicator Lesley Walters, who has been travelling to the region since around 1996 to lend her expertise to the judging process.
She first became involved while teaching at Colac College, when she was approached by the school principal with an invitation to travel to Terang and be part of the adjudication process for a rural musical scholarship.
“It was something to do, so I was happy to do it,” Ms Walters said.
“I don’t have anything to do with any of the people in the region, so I’m the outsider who can come in with a totally unbiased view.
“I use my musical experience to give an outside perspective.”
Ms Walters said every year she has been in awe of the talent on display during the awards.
“I’ve always been stunned and amazed at the level of proficiency,” she said.
“They’re an untapped wealth of talent.
“A lot of people out here take it a bit more seriously because in somewhere like Geelong, all the opportunities are there at their fingertips, whereas kids in the country don’t have that but do make the most of what they’ve got.”