Three students have achieved professional recognition as the best young brass and woodwind talents in the UK after winning the finals of the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship Awards.
Held for the first time at London’s Trinity College of Music (TCM), the finals featured the best from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), Royal College of Music (RCM) and Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).
The winning finalists were Amy Dickson (a saxophonist from the RCM), Rasul-Kareyev (RAM clarinettist) and Katie Bedford, a flautist from the RCM. They each received £2,000 to further their studies and music careers.
In their 17th year, the 2006 scholarships in February were dedicated to brass and woodwind and produced a record number of entries. Preliminary rounds in December were judged by a panel that included David Purser, head of brass at Birmingham Conservatoire, and Quentin Poole, director of music at the Purcell School.
Ten students representing some of the UK’s leading conservatoires were each selected to perform a programme of 30 minutes at the live final in front of an enthusiastic audience and distinguished jury chaired by Dr Paul Goodey (head of wind, brass and percussion at TCM).
‘The support Yamaha gives to talented students studying at British conservatoires through the YFME Scholarships is enormously welcome,’ Dr Goodey said. ‘The high standard that exists in the conservatoires was clearly in evidence in today’s final and the need to find money to help exceptional students support themselves during study is a pressing concern. Scholarships such as these provide vital help in allowing young talent to fulfill itself.’
The Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe – a charitable trust founded in 1990 to assist talented young musicians – operates in 31 countries and is dedicated to music popularisation and education. The awards are open to anybody up to the age of 28 in fulltime education at college or university in the UK. The three equal awards offer a unique opportunity to further education and careers.
Last year’s piano scholarships produced three winners of such a high standard that Yamaha arranged a special showcase concert, hosted by the RAM.
‘Yamaha is very grateful to the distinguished jury who listened to our 10 finalists,’ said Yamaha education manager Alistair Jones. ‘Theirs was an unenviable task selecting three outstanding players from such an array of talented young musicians. ‘This year’s scholarship competition produced a record 54 players from our UK conservatoires, playing to a very high standard in the preliminary round,’ he added. ‘The 10 finalists produced a wonderful day’s music in their 30-minute programmes. I’d like to think that amongst our winners is a future star.’
Jones went on to thank TCM for providing Yamaha with ‘a truly stunning and historic venue’ for this event. Mike Ketley, senior director at Yamaha Kemble Music UK Limited, was also impressed. ‘Each year the standard seems to improve and this year has been no exception,’ he enthused. ‘We received so many excellent entries and all the finalists were quite outstanding. We are delighted to be able to offer these scholarships in order that these talented musicians can further their studies.’
The 2007 awards – on 8 February at the RCM – are focused on voice. For further information, contact Ian Frankland, YMFE administrator: tel: 01908 369 286; email: ian.frankland@gmx.yamaha.com