The 2023 Coast Recital Society scholarships were recently awarded to 23 local students to help further their study of classical music.
Scholarships were awarded to pianists Taiyo Blackwell, Hazel Durow, Jacob Helfer, Alex Nicols, Maria Relova, Gene Sato, Taho Shinagawa; cellists Salma Atoui, Erin Payne, Cael Read, Alina Shao, Miyo Shinagawa, Esmé Woolliams; violinists Jinny Marshall, Cassidy Wieler, Sebastian Young-Laidlaw; and singers Carter Greenfield, Sarah Kraus, Hailey Miller, Lilja Swift.
Three pre-professional youth musicians received special awards. The Allan Crane Award, named in honour of the founder of the Coast Recital Society, was awarded to Baroque violinist, Hanna Crudele.
This award is offered periodically when an applicant pursuing post-secondary music studies performs with exceptional merit. After completing a bachelor’s degree in violin performance, Crudele attended Tafelmusik’s summer institute in Toronto.
Crudele is currently studying Baroque violin and viola at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague and has enjoyed playing with a variety of ensembles in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. ”I am forever grateful for the CRS,” she said, “in supporting young artists from the Sunshine Coast, and am honoured to have received this award.”
Simon Gidora received the Ross Brougham Award for outstanding musicianship. Gidora recently completed his bachelor of music degree at McGill University where he studied violin, conducting and voice. He is currently completing a two-year artist diploma program in opera studies at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
“Since as early as I can remember in my musical journey,” Gidora said, “the support of the Coast Recital Society has played a large role in helping me pursue my studies… I am forever grateful to be able to follow my passion while feeling the support of my home community.”
The new Elise Buqué Award for significant development in performance went to flautist and pianist Emily Picard. Picard studied with Professor Corey Hamm at UBC and played with the UBC Concert Winds.
“Auditioning for the CRS is a great opportunity to get performance experience,” Picard observed, “and was a vital part of my preparation for university auditions; I am so grateful for the experience each and every time.”
CRS scholarships are funded from the sale of CDs at Coast Recital Society concerts and from the proceeds from unused tickets returned for resale. Applications are accepted in January and February of each year and are open to Sunshine Coast students, 25 years or younger, who are studying classical music. Previous recipients are encouraged to apply. Browse to coastrecitalsociety.ca for details.
Coast Symphony Orchestra plans explosive performance
The Coast Symphony Orchestra will present its spring concert on Sunday, May 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Chatelech Secondary School in Sechelt.
The orchestra’s conductor is Maestro José Ceron Ortega, an internationally-acclaimed instrumentalist, conductor, coach, and adjudicator who was recently recognized by the Vancouver Musicians’ Association as the 2023 Community Activist of the Year.
The concert will include well-known music by Dvorak, Stravinsky and
Strauss and also feature Tchaikovsky’s popular 1812 Overture (complete with simulated cannon blasts) and his Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture.
Tickets for adults are $20 and free for children 12 and under. Tickets are available for cash only at Gibsons Florist in Sunnycrest Mall and Strait Music in Sechelt. Cash only tickets will also be available at the door.
