Whanganui opera and country music singer Hayley Sellars has donated a special scholarship prize for the overall most promising vocal student this year.
"It's $200 which will help with costs like lessons and transport or whatever the winner can use it for," she said.
Ms Sellars said the money is profit from the Opera in the Bullring event at the Ranui Bull Sale Ring near Kai Iwi in February.
"I wanted to make a contribution because I'm well aware of the costs that families incur when supporting their children's talents.
"I know my parents spent a lot of money to support my musical ambitions so this is about giving back for me."
Ms Sellars has studied singing at Victoria and Waikato universities and would like to see aspiring singers receive encouragement to inspire them to keep going.
She said there are bigger prize pools for children competing in larger cities but she believes children in the Whanganui region are big on talent.
Adjudicator for the instrumental and vocal competitions is renowned counter-tenor and former New Zealand School of Music lecturer Geoffrey Coker.
Mr Coker retired from his lectureship in 2015 and continues to work as an international music examiner.
Despite stormy weather on Thursday all competitors made it to the event.