Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Awards and regional events underpin the Foundation’s commitment to nurturing the talent of young performing artists in their local communities.
Organised by our regional volunteer committees, this year $20,000 was distributed through six Arts Excellence Awards in Auckland/Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch, with more than $120,000 distributed by the Taranaki committee with support from the TSB Community Trust.
In Christchurch, the local committee organised and supported a range of events to showcase young talent and raise funds. This included a concert at Diana Isaac Retirement Village, a luncheon and performance by former Arts Excellence Award recipient Polly Ott with ‘GANZ A Capella’ at The Piano, and a showcase at the Ashburton Event Centre in conjunction with the Ashburton Youth Institute. The committee’s year culminates with ‘A Festive Christmas’ concert with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 21 December.
A highlight for the Wellington Committee was the concert and reception held at Government House in August, hosted by the Governor General and Sir David Gascoigne. A full house was delighted with the offering of mostly operatic material from Wade Kernot, Emma Pearson, Michaela Cadwgan, and LJ Crichton, accompanied by Bruce Greenfield. Earlier in the year the committee presented a concert with choirs from Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in St Mary of the Angels church. The school welcomed the opportunity to perform for a live audience ahead of the choirs’ participation in the Big Sing festival.
This article was originally published in our Summer 2019/20 edition of Rhapsody. Download the pdf.
