Mazda Young Performer Awards

Mazda Foundation National Young Performer Awards Recognises New Zealand’s Best Young Talent

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October 2007

The crème of New Zealand’s best young talent was recognised at the 2007 Mazda Foundation National Young Performer Awards held in Tauranga this month.

Competing in Modern Dance, Highland National Dance, Orchestral Instrument and Speech and Drama, the awards offered 127 competitors the opportunity to measure themselves against their peers at a national level and vie for the financial assistance to further their arts.

The awards were hosted by the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand (PACANZ) and the Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society at the Baycourt Community Arts Centre from October 12 to 14.

“The Nationals” as they are known to those involved, have been held in New Zealand for over 30 years. The multi-discipline awards bring together the cream of performing arts talent from across the country, identify the best and reward them with financial assistance as a contribution towards their future training.

A total prize pool of $40,000 was equally divided annually among the art forms, with $24,000 worth of tuition grants given to first, second and third places.

Each recipient determines the exact purpose for the scholarship suitable to his or her situation, within the parameters of tuition. Last year the scholarships were used toward the completion of training in New Zealand and overseas, post-graduate courses and special schools and master classes.

PACANZ president Betty Bennett says the awards provide a chance to view and to develop appreciation for other art forms, and establish new friendships with others who share a passion for the performing arts.

“It’s especially an opportunity for growth and development of the individual as they hone performance skills and technical prowess,” says Ms Bennett.

Through a rigorous competition and assessment process the awards identify 12 young people who have the skills, talent and motivation to move onto a professional career in their chosen art form. The disciplines of Ballet, Tap, Pianoforte, Vocal, Modern Dance, Highland and National Dance, Orchestral Instrument and Speech and Drama are alternated each year.

“These awards are a fantastic opportunity to compete against the best in their field and, through financial support for winners, assist the very best towards future training at an elite level,” says Mazda Foundation Chairman Andrew Clearwater.

“One of the key goals of the Mazda Foundation is to encourage the promotion and awareness of New Zealand art and culture, and it is by supporting awards such as these that we are able to do this,” Mr Clearwater says.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Speech and Drama
1st Oscar Enberg (Christchurch)
2nd Andre Harris (Tauranga)
3rd William Alexander (Christchurch)

Instrumental
1st Amalia Hall (North Shore City)
2nd Jisun Kim (Hamilton)
3rd Emily Constable (Auckland)

Highland Dance
1st Sarah Chapman (Havelock North)
2nd Jayden Withington (Hastings)
3rd Ellena Soper (Blenheim)

Modern Dance
1st Sharn Te Pou (Wellington)
2nd Alana Sargent (Gisborne)
3rd Sharnika Robson (Auckland)

This year’s high calibre adjudicators were Bryan Aitken for Speech and Drama, Janet Allison for Highland National, Brian Carbee for Modern Dance and Uwe Grodd for Instrumental. Rosemary Barnes was the official accompanist.

Next year’s awards will be held at Tauranga’s Baycourt Theatre again and will include Ballet, Tap, Pianoforte and Vocal. The Mazda Foundation has confirmed its participation as principle sponsor for the 2008 awards.

ENDS

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