Music notes: Pressure on six hopefuls for top title

Antonio Della Barca, vocals, Hastings; Olivia Wilding, cellist, Hastings; Grace Irwin, pianist, Havelock North; Cameron Ferrick, vocals, Napier; Laurence de Burgh, clarinetist, Havelock North. Absent: Rhys Siu Fung Wu, pianist, Napier - competitors in the Forsyth Barr Esam Cushing Hawke's Bay Young Musician of the year, run by Institute of Registered Music Teachers Hawke's Bay Branch Photographer: Duncan Brown

The six finalists for this year's Forsyth Barr/Esam Cushing Young Musician of the Year have been chosen.

They are cellist Olivia Wilding, pianists Rhys Su Fung Wu and Grace Irwin, clarinettist Laurence de Burgh and singers Antonio Della Barker and Cameron Ferrick.

Be sure to hear them play for visiting adjudicator Timothy Noon in the final of the event in the Lindisfarne College Performing Arts Centre, Hastings at 7.30pm on Friday.

There are big prizes on offer - the Forsyth Barr/Esam Cushing first prize of $1500 plus the Williams Cup, second prize of $750 and the Walter and Beryl Gollner Memorial Cup and a third prize of $350 and $50 music voucher sponsored by Musicworks. In addition there are Altrusa Club $150 prizes for each unplaced finalist, the Plus 4 Insurance Solutions Prize of $500 for the top instrumentalist and a special prize of $400 for the top singer.

The competition aims to present the best music talent among local young musicians.

With 20 years' experience as an organist and choir director in several British cathedrals, Noon is director of music at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. He combines his daily work with the Cathedral's three choirs (of children and adults) with a busy and varied freelance schedule.

As an organist, he is a frequent solo performer, and has performed concerts in many prestigious venues throughout Europe.

Door sales, $25 - seniors, $20; children and students $12; families, $50 ( two adults and two children).

Noon will conduct a workshop - All About Exams from an Examiner - at Lindisfarne College from 9.30am on Saturday. Admission, $35. For further information, phone 844 6680.