Young Musician of the Year - guitarist Luke van Duuren. Photo / File
Young Musician of the Year - guitarist Luke van Duuren. Photo / File
Where: Century Theatre, Napier When: Friday, September 19 Reviewer: Peter Williams
Six young Hawke's Bay musicians - pianists Grace Irwin, Darcy Snell and Hayden Snell, tenor Antonio Della-Barca, guitarist Luke van Duuren and oboist Lawrence de Burgh - each presented a varied, 20-minute programme for visiting adjudicator Susan Smith, examiner for theAssociated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, from Auckland.
Organised by the Hawke's Bay branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers, this was a stunning concert where all six talented performers displayed a remarkable range of skills and musicianship in performances that easily captivated the attention and admiration of an appreciative audience. Excellent support for two of the soloists was provided by accompanists Elizabeth Curtis and Susan Melville.
"There is remarkable talent here," Susan Smith enthused. "There must be a great future for some of these fine players who can present such quality programmes with such aplomb, the result of dedicated effort and excellent teaching.
"Full marks for the generous donations of all the sponsors for the encouragement they provide for these young players. What a great competition - each finalist goes home with a prize!"
First place was awarded to guitarist Luke van Duuren for his performance of Prelude in E BWV 1006 by J S Bach, Usher Waltz Opus 29 by Koshkinn and Recurdos de la Alhambra by Tarrega.
His technical skill and innate musicianship won him the Preston Epplett Accounting prize of $1500, the Plus 4 Insurance Solutions top instrumentalist prize of $500 and the Williams Cup.
Second place was awarded to oboist Laurence de Burgh for his sensitive and very musical performance of works by Handel, Mozart and Britten, earning him a prize of $750 and the Walter and Beryl Gollner Memorial Cup.
Third place, with a prize of $350 and a $50 music voucher from Musicworks, was awarded to pianist Grace Irwin for her clear and stylish presentation of items by Bach, Haydn and Chopin.
The other three finalists each received a prize of $150 from the Audrey Powell Trust of the Altrusa Club - pianist brothers Hayden and Darcy Snell, and tenor Antonio Della Barca, who also won the anonymous prize of $400 for the top placed singer in the competition.
A complete contrast was provided by the performance of an entertaining selection of items by guest artists the instrumental ensemble Confetti, flautists Dana Parkhill and Emily Cargill, violist Gretchen Anderson and cellist Paula Sugden, to complete a splendid evening's music.
