Announcing Our 2021 Scholarship Competition Winners!
Waltons New School of Music
We thank all students who participated in the New School’s 25th annual Scholarship Competition. The Competition recognises and rewards some of our most promising students by presenting First Prize winners with full-year tuition scholarships and Second and Third Prize winners with certificates and vouchers for additional tuition.
Students competed in three categories this year:
Young Student of the Year
For students aged 18 and younger.
Mature Student of the Year
For students aged 19 and older.
Most Promising Beginner
For students of all ages who came to the New School as beginners on their chosen instrument during the 2020-2021 school year.
The standard of performances was very high, and all participants who didn’t win a prize this year should be proud of their achievements.
Special thanks to this year’s Competition adjudicators: Maja Brooks (Rumianowska), Peter Dobai, Fiadh Rua Gregg, David Mooney, Oleg Ponomarev and Colin Power.
This year’s winners are:
Young Student of the Year
First Prize & Full-Year Scholarship
Eric Xu • Piano
(Elisabeth Meuleman • Teacher)
Eric performed the Allegro from Sonatina No. 1 in G by Thomas Attwood; ‘O Waly Waly’, arranged by Hywel Davies; and ‘Angelfish’ by Anne Crosby Gaudet for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented that Eric’s was a most accomplished and balanced performance. His presentation was confident, and he captured the style of each piece well, with lovely phrasing, good dynamic contrasts and emotional engagement.
Second Prize
Lauren Carroll • Voice
(Sinéad Flynn • Teacher)
Lauren performed ‘Burn’ from Hamilton: An American Musical by Lin Manuel Miranda and ‘Without You’ from My Fair Lady by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Lauren’s lovely tonal quality, wide dynamic range and emotionally engaging performance. She both captured the styles and eras of her two contrasting pieces and portrayed her characters well – so important for musical theatre.
Third Prize
Max Kaye • Drum Kit
(Hugh O’Byrne • Teacher)
Max performed his own solo drum piece for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Max’s confident performance and solid technique and looked forward to seeing him start to engage with live musicians. ‘We desperately need good drummers’, one of them remarked.
Mature Student of the Year
First Prize & Full-Year Scholarship
Emmagene Cooke • Voice
(Sinéad Flynn • Teacher)
Emmagene performed ‘Whispering’ from Spring Awakening by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik and ‘Pulled’ from The Addams Family by Andrew Lippa for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Emmagene’s ability to embody the mood of each piece and capture the essence of the music while maintaining her individuality. Her technical excellence, as well as the character and energy of her performances, really allow the listener to connect with the music.
Second Prize
Gemma Cox • Piano
(Varo Khachatryan • Teacher)
Gemma performed Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1 in F minor by Frédéric Chopin for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Gemma’s beautiful execution, control of her instrument, attention to dynamics and phrasing and evident musicality. She performed a demanding piece with elegance and considered attention to use of dynamics and rests, and she really knew how to draw in the listener.
Joint Third Prize
Jack O’Connor • Voice
(Sinéad Flynn • Teacher)
Jack performed ‘If I Could Tell Her’ from Dear Evan Hanson by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and ‘Caro Mio Ben’ by Giuseppe Giordani for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Jack’s enjoyable performances, great tone, articulation and natural dynamics through phrases. His contrasting pieces demonstrated his varied capabilities, and he embodied the spirit of each piece well.
Joint Third Prize
Livia Bartolomé Vergel • Voice
(Sinéad Flynn • Teacher)
Livia performed ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ from The Phantom of The Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe; and ‘Se tu m’ami’ by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
The adjudicators commented on Livia’s beautiful, clear tone, lovely, flowing phrases, excellent tuning and commanding expression of dynamics and tempo. Her choice of two very contrasting pieces allowed her to display a variety of vocal techniques.
Most Promising Beginner
First Prize & Full-Year Scholarship
Noah Behan • Voice
(Robyn Richardson • Teacher)
Noah performed ‘Your Song’ by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, accompanying himself on piano, for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Noah’s lovely voice, fine technique, note pitching and dynamic range, as well as his effortless coordination of piano playing and singing. Both felt that it was an honest, emotionally connected performance.
Second Prize
Ciara Jensen • Ukulele
(Gary Norman • Teacher)
Ciara performed ‘Clouds’ by Zach Sobiech, ‘Riptide’ by Vance Joy and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Ciara’s solid control of both her instrument and her voice, her lovely tone quality and quick and effortless chord changes, and the rhythmic variety of the pieces. Both felt that hers was a confident and spirited performance.
Third Prize
Bastien Carre • Drum Kit
(Hugh O’Byrne • Teacher)
Bastien performed ‘I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You’ by Aretha Franklin and ‘Jump’ by Van Halen for the Competition.
The adjudicators commented on Bastien’s impressive control of the drum kit, tempo and dynamics, and natural feel for the instrument. His drumming was engaging, powerful and stylistically appropriate to the two very different songs he chose.