Music board happily ditches cultural cringe

International pianist John Van Buskirk and the well-known Kiwi pianist Richard Mapp were examining in Tauranga last week for the New Zealand Music Examination Board (NZMEB).

Mr Van Buskirk, who studied at Juilliard, is now resident in New Zealand and has played in the current series of Tauranga Musica concerts.

Distinguished NZMEB patron Michael Houstoun says: "Among the things I love about NZMEB are firstly that it says goodbye to the [cultural] cringe ... It is very happily homegrown. Then there are the great repertoire lists, both extensive and musically wide ranging."

NZMEB is the only examinations board in New Zealand to have attained course approval by the NZ Qualifications Authority.

It also has the University of Waikato as its accrediting body. Successful examination entrants at the highest levels are able to access points towards their tertiary studies.

In response to the current economic climate, the board has been able to lower the cost of music examinations to make them accessible to more students.

Four NZMEB students were recently invited to perform in the Institute of Registered Music Teachers High Achievers' concert.

Sonya Giles achieved her Licentiate Diploma in Performance Piano last year and has enjoyed playing Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Prokofiev this year. She also plays trombone in the school band.

Ashlyn Sheridan, who was awarded the NZMEB trophy for the middle grades at the previous examination session, is about to sit her Grade 6 piano exam. She also enjoys playing her trumpet in the school band.

Leo Read, who travels from Whakatane for his piano lessons, recently won a scholarship for his age group at the Tauranga competitions and was named the Bay of Plenty Music School Bach Player of the Year. Leo also studies trombone.

Guy Purcell is studying towards Grade 8 piano, plays bass guitar and enjoys being a youth volunteer for Bay of Plenty Search and Rescue.

Ella attained a high distinction in her Grade 7 piano exam and a distinction in her Grade 5 singing exam in this session.

NZMEB will hold another examination session in early December.