Eight promising, young Sunshine Coast music students received scholarships last week from the Coast Recital Society (CRS) at the society's annual general meeting in Sechelt.Erin Macdonald of Gibsons received $500 to further her viola studies. She will be entering her final undergraduate year at the University of Victoria in September. Gena Ellet (piano) and Kyle Meyerink (piano and voice) of Halfmoon Bay and Sterling Vanderzee (piano) of Sechelt, each received $300 scholarships. Three Roberts Creek students, Esme McLaughlin-Brooks (violin), Liam Bonser (flute and piano), and Stephen Beckmyer (piano and violin), received $200 each, as did Blair Lawson (piano) of Sechelt."The Coast Recital Society is a proud contributor to the evolution of excellent music performance on the Sunshine Coast," said CRS artistic director Frances Heinsheimer Wainwright, noting that the amounts awarded annually have almost trebled since 1998. "These students are the next generation of teachers, musicians and lovers of classical music. Our commitment to them is re-affirmed when we can point to past CRS scholarship winners such as soprano Rose-Ellen Nichols and pianist Mark Andrews, who are looking forward to professional careers on the classical music stage."The CRS also presents scholarships to musicians who participate in the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts. This year's winners included Vanessa Darwin (vocals), Talia Strang (piano), Neal Andrews (percussion, woodwinds, brass), and Yuan-Qin Leong (strings). Each received $200.
