Geelong Advertiser Music Competition
HISTORY
The Scholarship came about as a result of The Geelong Advertiser Pty Ltd to mark the achievement of 150 years of publishing in November 1990, The Geelong Advertiser sought to widen its support of community programs in the field of performing arts, especially music. In recognition of the support of readers and advertisers down through the years it was then announced by the directors that the company was to create a trust for the benefit of musicians by providing assistance to them to further their skills, talents, and careers. To this end The Geelong Advertiser Music Scholarship Trust was formed through an initial grant of $60,000 made by The Geelong Advertiser.
Initially the Scholarship competition was structured to offer a National prize only however in 2005 the Trust implemented a Regional Competition, now known as the John Brockman Regional Competition to encourage local young musicians.
Past winners of this very celebrated National prize include 1991 winner Phillip Johnston, pianist, 1992 winner Clemens Leske, pianist, 1993 winner Carolyn Monger, flautist, 1994 winner Gregory Lee, violinist, 1995 winner Rebecca Chambers, pianist, 1996 winner Liwei Qin, cellist, 1997 winner Paul Hankinson, pianist, 1998 winner Sophie Rowell, violinist, 1999 winner Elizabeth Hennessy, flautist, 2000 winner Timothy Munro, flautist, 2001 winner David Tong, pianist, 2002 winner Alexandra Osborne, violinist, 2003 winner Pei Sian NG, cellist, 2004 winner Hoang Pham, pianist, 2005 winner Ke Lin, pianist, 2006 winner Kylie Liang, violinist and last year’s wonderful winner Louise McKay, cellist.
The past winners of the John Brockman Regional Competition have included 2005 winner Emma Hunt, Violin, 2006 winner Laura Mc Cartney violinist and last years wonderful winner, Matthew Demetriou, pianist.
^ Back to top
OBJECTIVE OF THE TRUST
The purpose of the National Competition is to encourage young people to aspire to excellence in music and to further the musical education of the recipient of the Costa National Prize of $10,000.
The winner is selected annually in public competition on the basis of performance excellence, potential and need. A runner-up prize of $2,500 will be awarded to the two remaining finalists.
The objective of the John Brockman Regional Competition is to encourage and recognise local solo instrumental musicians who are domiciled within the G21 footprint with the award of the Harwood Andrews Prize of $3000 and runner-up prizes of the Patrons Prize $1000 for each of the remaining finalists. Finalists will participate in a public audition process at two levels. Four finalists will be selected to perform at the finals concert for a maximum of seven minutes each.
^ Back to top
GOALS OF THE NATIONAL and REGIONAL PROGRAM
The goals of The Geelong Advertiser Music Scholarship program are:
-
to provide opportunities for young solo instrumental musicians of potentially international calibre to perform before an audience,
-
to enrich the community by providing opportunities to hear young talented musicians perform in a world class concert venue, to enable aspiring musicians to interact with professional artists,
-
to increase the skill of the performing arts communities in Victoria,
-
to increase the public profiles of the musicians, and sponsoring organisations contributing to the program.
^ Back to top
THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE MUSIC COMPETITION
The Geelong Advertiser Music Competition aims to serve two areas of the community.
Aspiring musicians
The ultimate objective of the Competition is to provide financial assistance to further the careers and studies of the winners and the opportunity given to all finalists to perform on the concert hall stage with their contemporaries.
In this way, the scholarship serves those who, because of their youth, would otherwise have little opportunity to be heard in a large auditorium.
The local, regional and metropolitan communities
Second, the Geelong Advertiser Music Competition provides the opportunity for the Geelong and Melbourne communities to hear the best of young talented musicians, drawn from across Australia, in the Costa Hall, the acclaimed concert venue at the Deakin University, Waterfront Campus in Geelong.
In addition, local schools and music teachers are given the opportunity to promote attendance and admission concessions are made to school and music students.
Finally, the community of Geelong is encouraged to support the Competition not only by attending the concert by entrants but also by donation to the Scholarship Fund.
^ Back to top
KEY PROGRAM AND ACHIEVEMENTS
For the past seventeen successive years the primary function of the Trust was to provide an annual National prize and since its inception such a prize has been awarded. In 2005 the Competition was restructured to include a Regional Music Competition for entrants aged between the ages of 14 and 20.
The competition receives excellent community support from the Geelong Advertiser Group. Further support is given to the National Competition, supported by the Costa Family Foundation.
Of the seventeen National winners to date, fifteen have used the prize to assist meeting the cost of overseas studies.
^ Back to top
STRUCTURE AND LEADERSHIP
The legal structure is a trust created on 1 July 1991 by the settlor being The Geelong Advertiser Proprietary Limited. The trust deed states that “The Settlor wishes to establish and make financial provision for a scholarship for the education and benefit of those residences of Australia with vocal or instrumental talent.”
The scholarship is voluntarily administered by a small Trust of eight, all of whom live in the Geelong district.
Trust members are:
John Morwood, (Chairman), Former Chairman of Directors of The Geelong Advertiser Proprietary Limited.
Dale Jennings, Journalist and former General Manager of The Geelong Advertiser Proprietary Limited
John Brockman OAM, Musician
Geoff Neilson AM, Accountant
Richard Anderson, Solicitor, Harwood Andrews
Wendy Galloway AM, Musician
Janet Bond, Editor GT Magazine, Geelong Advertiser
Gerard Everett, Chief Financial Officer, Geelong Advertiser
^ Back to top
2007 NATIONAL COMPETITION WINNER – Louise McKay
Louise McKay is in her final year at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide, studying cello with Janis Laurs. This year she was selected as an Australian
Chamber Orchestra “Emerging Artist” and will tour with members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in October.
She is a fellowship holder with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra this year, and has recently returned from two weeks studying with Michel Strauss (Paris Conservatoire).
Louise was selected to compete in the Prague Spring International Music Competition in 2006, was named ‘Most Promising Player’ in the Gisborne International Recital Competition (New Zealand, 2004) and was awarded 2nd prize in the North Queensland Concerto Competition Open Section, 2005. Louise is a casual member of the West Australian, Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. Louise’s Associate Artist for the Haydn concerto is Leigh Harrold.
^ Back to top
2007 REGIONAL COMPETITION WINNER - Matthew Demetriou
Matthew has been studying piano since the age of ten and is now working with Glenn Riddle at the Victorian College of the Arts. He plans to study composition and piano performance at Melbourne University next year. He is preparing for the AMusA practical examination later this year. His ambition is to study overseas and to travel the world with his music.
Attention applicants
To apply for the 2008 Geelong Advertiser Music Competition at the National or Regional level, the applicant must complete the appropriate application form online or in hard copy. It is extremely important that all potential applicants thoroughly read the Conditions of Entry on this website prior to completing their application. No ineligible applicant's will receive entry into this competition.
|
Attention applicants
To apply for the 2008 Geelong Advertiser Music Competition at the National or Regional level, the applicant must complete the appropriate application form. It is extremely important that all potential applicants thoroughly read the conditions of entry and the declaration page of this website prior to completing their application. Ineligible applicant's will not receive entry into this competition. | |
^ Back to top
