NZSM alumna receives Kiwi music scholarship
The 2016 Kiwi Music Scholarship has been awarded to three New Zealand performers including Victoria University of Wellington Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) alumna Bianca Andrew.
The mezzo soprano Bianca has a Postgraduate Diploma of Music from NZSM, and has now been a recipient of a Kiwi Music scholarship two years in a row. This year Bianca’s scholarship will provide additional funding of $20,000 towards completing her Master of Performance, under Yvonne Kenny, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
This follows her extraordinarily successful first year in London where she was awarded the Song Prize at the Kathleen Ferrier competition. Bianca was awarded the Kiri Te Kanawa Scholarship for outstanding potential in the 2014 New Zealand Lexus Song Quest.
NZSM Director Euan Murdoch says the result is a great example of the successful musicians NZSM produces.
“Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music has a great track record as the country’s pre-eminent place to discoverand experience music of all kinds. We’re really proud that another one of our graduates has won this scholarship and is flying the flag for us around the world.”
Peter Walls, the Convener of the Selection Committee, said the standard of applicants was very high this year.
“However these three performers were clearly outstanding and are worthy recipients of the scholarship. The Committee members and I will follow their future careers with great interest and high expectations.”
The Kiwi Music Scholarship was established in 2009 by Sven Stenbäck in memory of his wife Maida Stenbäck (née Saunders), a New Zealander who loved classical music
The Scholarship is to assist New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated accomplishment in musical performance or conducting to enable them to further their musical education.