It is with pleasure that I present the President’s report for 2018, the year representing the 23rd year of St Cecilia Music Scholarships.
Committee/members
This year’s committee comprised the following members:
Chris Heazlewood (President & Secretary), Pam Larkin (Vice President), Wendy Black (Treasurer), Dave Harding, Richard Edwards, Ian Duff, Lyndal Lassau, Marion Roubos-Bennett. John Haslem joined the committee during the year. In addition to the office bearers indicated above, Richard Edwards and Marion Roubos-Bennett contributed significantly to the publicity of the association and concert. Marion also accepted the opportunity to act as “archivist” for the association taking on this role from Maria de Rocco who retired from this role in 2017.
It was with great sadness that we recognise the passing of Caryl Haslem in May. Caryl had previously been President and in recent years rejoined the committee and in particular supported the fund-raising activities of the Association. Caryl will be recognised by the naming of the First Prize Junior Classical in her honour.
We also note the sudden death of Ron Kiers our piano tuner of many years standing. Pam Larkin had conveyed our condolences to the Kiers family.
David Harding Tertiary Music Scholarship
It was with great joy that I received news that Batemans Bay Rotary had decided to make a contribution to St Cecilia in the form of funding for a Tertiary Music Scholarship to be named in honour of David Harding. The inaugural scholarship was awarded to Chloe Watts who has proceeded to Bachelor of Music Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium. This scholarship will be an ongoing recognition of David’s contribution to the St Cecilia Scholarship program.
In addition to the David Harding Scholarship the Committee awarded a tertiary scholarship to Johanna Eltherington a former winner of the Senior Contemporary Category. She has proceeded to tertiary studies in music at JMC College in Sydney.
Donations and grants
During the year we received significant grants from the Eurobodalla Shire Council ($2,500), Moruya CWA ($2000) and the Rotary Club of Batemans Bay ($2000). We also received a grant from the South Coast Music Society of $350 and $300 from PerfEx and associated persons.
We are also grateful to the individuals who made donations which are detailed in the Treasurer’s report.
We are grateful to the faithful individuals and organisations that support the St Cecilia scholarship program which enables us to provide annual awards totaling $6000 and tertiary scholarships to young musicians from the South Coast of NSW.
Public Fund Trustees
Thanks to the three trustees of our public fund. The public fund receieves tax deductible donations to the Association and the trustees oversee allocation of these funds to the purposes of the Association. Rafe De Crespigny, Peter Kable and Di Edwards have been trustees for many years.
Di Edwards advised late 2018 that she would stand down from being a trustee. We thank her for her contribution as a trustee.
Pop Up and Opal Concerts
On August 26th 2018 a Pop Up Concert was conducted at St Peters Broulee. The idea of the concert was to give an opportunity for musicians to perform without the pressure of audition conditions. Fifteen young people participated in the concert which was well received by all.
In addition to the Pop Up Concert several performances entertained residents at Opal retirement village. Thanks to Marion for organising the event with staff of Opal.
Entries
A total of 40 entries were received from 36 young people (15 males and 21 females) in the Bega, Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven local government areas.
Auditions
The 2018 Scholarship auditions were held on the weekend of 3 and 4 November at St Peter’s Anglican College with Lizzie Collier and Chris Retter of Canberra Grammar school as adjudicators.
Concert
The concert was held on November 26. The compere at the concert was Ian Duff. Around 200 were in the audience and they enjoyed an hour’s worth of entertainment. The presenters were Hon Andrew Constance, Dr Catherine Dale (ESC), Pam Larkin (South Coast Music Society), Dr Sue MacKenzie (PerFex), Henk Roubos (PerfEx), Alan Russell, (President of the Batemans Bay Rotary Club), Annette Chapman, (President of the Moruya CWA), John Haslem and Chris Heazlewood.
The concert commenced with a performance by Chloe Watts a former participant and recipient of the David Harding Tertiary Music Scholarship 2018. Johanna Eltherington 2017 winner of the Senior Contemporary category and a recipient of a St Cecilia Tertiary Music Scholarship performed at the mid point of the concert.
Awards made at the Concert were as follows:
| Senior Classical | ||
| First: | Luca Ziino | Piano |
| Second: | Nikola Kanizir | Violin |
| Third: | Luke Bowen | Piano |
| Senior Contemporary | ||
| First: | Jack Gallen | Guitar |
| Second: | Sylvie Williams | Vocal |
| Third: | Molly Burrows | Piano |
| Junior Classical | ||
| First: | Chantelle Bennett | Violin |
| Second: | Dejan Kanizir | Piano |
| Third: | Amelie Ziino | Violin |
| Junior Contemporary | ||
| First: | Luke Shooks | Guitar |
| Second: | Stella Lloyd-Jones | Vocal |
| Third: | Jessica Maher | Vocal |
Attendees at the concert commented on the high standard of performance and the talent of the performers. We look forward to observing the future development of these young musicians some of whom are aspiring to become professional musicians in the future.
Acknowledgements
There are a number of organisations and individuals whose support made 2018 another successful year for the Association:
- ABC South East for publicity;
- Ian Duff for compering concert;
- The Bay Post for affording us publicity;
- St Peter’s Anglican College;
- St Bernard’s Church and its staff;
- Henk Roubos Photography;
- Audition/Concert Accompanists – Jan Elias, Luca Ziino, Peter Rich, Ros Maher, Mia Mirkic;
- Our donors: Moruya CWA, Batemans Bay Rotary, Eurobodalla Shire Council, South Coast Music Society, PerFex and our personal donors;
- Our Trustees, Peter Kable, Di Edwards and Rafe de Crespigny (our patron);
- Peter Rich for designing and printing the Scholarship Certificates; and
- Maria de Rocco our founder.
Chris Heazlewood
President
5 March 2019
