These talented people have taken out top honours in 2022 for outstanding exams.
Each year, with the wonderful and generous contributions of our supporters, we are able to recognise some of our most outstanding exam performers across the year. Examiners nominate these superstars throughout the year, with final selection coming down to very tough decisions made by the our State Committee. Let's meet them now, drum roll please...
Fosters Music Award
for the most outstanding Candidate in North-West Tasmania goes to Jet Spicer.
Jet completed his Musical Theatre Grade 5 exam with flying colours. Examiner, Jane Edwards, was especially supportive of Jet's nomination stating that "he gave a stunning exam, with such accomplished and mature singing, as well as deep dramatic connection." Well done Jet and teacher, Rosie Stapleton!
Thanks so much to Fosters Music for supporting this award.
Barratts Music Award
for the most outstanding Candidate in Northern Tasmania goes to Mia Aras.
Mia achieved an A+ in her Piano Grade 8 exam and received some wonderful feedback from Examiner, Melissa Rogers: "A stunning performance today. The playing was nuanced and detailed with a sophisticated sense of style. You presented a sense of narrative with maturity and spirit. Your sense of musicianship was evident and all areas of the examination were well prepared and executed with confidence and finesse. Well done." Well done Mia and teacher, Lucy Aras!
Thanks so much to Barratts Music for supporting this award.
McCann's Music Award
for the most outstanding Candidate in Southern Tasmania goes to Rock Liu.
Rock scored an A+ in his Violin Grade 8 exam just a week after turning 15. Examiner, Jo St Leon sang his praises, particularly for the "outstanding playing of real maturity for one so young". Well done Rock and teacher, Frances Davies!
Thanks so much to McCann's Music for supporting this award.
Modern Musician Wind Award
for the most outstanding brass or woodwind Candidate Tasmania goes to Cathy Wang.
Cathy achieved an A+ in her Flute Grade 1 exam. Examiner, Marg Reid, offered great praise and encouragement for this young learner, saying to Cathy that "you play confidently and with great energy! You were well prepared for this exam and it was a delight to listen to your musical interpretations of these wonderful pieces. Above all keep enjoying what you learn!". Well done Cathy and teacher, Abby Fraser!
Thanks so much to Modern Musician for supporting this award.
Modern Musician Rockschool Award
for the most outstanding Rockschool Candidate in Tasmania goes to Henry Bullard.
Outstanding doesn't seem to cut it in describing the immaculate exam that earnt Henry a score of 100% in his Rockschool Drums Grade 2 exam. Examiner, Hamish Houston, said "you showed exceptional and highly convincing musicianship here with a
flawless performance." Well done Henry and teacher, Damien Oliver-Black!
Thanks so much to Modern Musician for supporting this award (as well).
Hobart Guitar Society Award
for the best exam performance in Classical Guitar goes to Harry Howard.
Harry's Classical Guitar Grade 3 exam earnt him an A+ and this nomination. Examiner, Kate Calwell, stated that "although only a Grade 3 candidate, Harry showed an exception attention to detail. Beautiful performance". Well done Harry!
Thanks so much to the Hobart Guitar Society for supporting this award.
AUSTA Tasmania Prize
for the most outstanding Candidate in strings goes to Samuel Hooper.
Samuel's Violin Grade 8 exam earnt him an A+ and this accolade. Examiner, Jo St Leon, had heartfelt praise for his exam performance, stating "Samuel, you are a remarkably accomplished and mature musician. I love that your interpretations come from within the music, rather than being imposed upon it. For me, this is the mark of a real musician. You brought a tear to my eye and touched my soul today. I don't really have the words to do justice to what I heard. Thank you!!" Well done Samuel and teacher, Dan Evans!
Thanks so much to AUSTA Tasmania for supporting this prize, and for the opportunity for Samuel to perform in concert soon.
Yamaha Music Award
for the most outstanding Candidate in Grade 4 Piano goes to Philippa Hunt.
Philippa's trek from Flinders Island to Launceston to attend her exam clearly didn't affect her performance, which scored her an A+ in her Piano Grade 4 exam. Examiner, Michael Power, had this praise for Philippa: "Congratulations on your performance today, Philippa. The technical work was very well prepared with a lovely technique developing. You demonstrated excellent understanding of style and clear consideration for each aspect of your playing. Bravo." Well done Philippa and teacher, Kathleen Ives-Heap!
Thanks so much to Yamaha Music for supporting this award.
TMTA Piano Award
for the most outstanding Candidate in Grade 7 Piano goes to Clara Ruffels.
Clara took her recent win at the Burnie Eisteddfod and kept on achieving with her Piano Grade 7 exam. Examiner, Amanda Hodder, had plenty of nice things to say about Clara's exam: "Thank you for playing today! You performed some beautiful music with great heart and a good sense of style and stylistic variation throughout. Your fluency is excellent, as evidenced by both your performance and technical work. You showed some very good musicianship today, well done." Well done Clara and teacher, Petrina Jahnz!
Thanks so much to the TMTA for supporting this award.
TMTA Theory Award
for the highest score in Theory or Musicianship Grade 5 goes to Jane Wong.
Grade 5 is getting pretty challenging but Jane still managed to achieve her Theory of Music qualification with a score of 66. Well done Jane!
Thanks so much to the TMTA for supporting this award (too), and for honouring the legacy of Jennifer Filby.
AMEB Tasmania Teaching Award
for the largest cohort of students achieving an A+ in their exam goes to Ruth Parsons.
This award was introduced in 2020 to specially acknowledge the work that goes on behind the scenes. If it weren't for the incredible teachers we're privileged to work with, none of the above would be possible. This year's worthy recipient is Ruth Parsons, who had four of her candidates achieve an A+ in their piano exams. Furthermore, Ruth teaches music theory and a further six of her students received an A+ level mark, including one perfect score of 100. Well done Ruth, and all her students!
A special mention to our past two years' award recipients, Karen Clark and Sarah Scheermeijer, who also had a strong cohort of students. To share the love, winners of this accolade are ineligible for the next two years.
We'll be featuring each of these award recipients and our supporters on our Facebook page as "Superstar Saturday" features for the coming weeks. These will include some fantastic words from them about their exam experience and the joy of music.
To find out about our amazing supporters who make this possible, or to find out about these prize for a healthy dose of inspiration, please visit our Awards page.
