Press Release: 19 October, 2009

Mazda Foundation National Young Performer of the Year Awards, Invercargill, 17-18 October, 2009

Southern audiences gorged on a feast of technical brilliance and stunning programmes as young performers aged 15 – 21 years competed for national titles in Modern Dance, Speech and Drama, Orchestral Instrumental and Highland and National Dance. Nearly 140 competitors displayed their talents in the Mazda Foundation National Young Performer of the Year Awards held at Invercargill’s Civic Theatre and Repertory House over the weekend.

The final concert on Sunday night showcased a weekend of thrilling expertise as finalists vied for $40,000 in prizes.

The Modern Dance section of 64 performers involved a workshop with the adjudicator, Bradley Chatfield from Sydney and two stage performances, one in Jazz and one Contemporary.

Highland Dance adjudicator, Sue Gill from Christchurch said the section of 19 was the largest line up of performers at a Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand (PACANZ) national competition.

While the Speech and Drama section, adjudicated by Pam Logan from Blenheim, enthralled audiences with poetry, characterisation, prose and an impromptu  section.

Instrumental adjudicators, Australians Antoni and Ruth Bonetti, said they had been astonished at the level of competition.

Mrs Bonetti said, “It’s wonderful to hear such musicianship from such a wide range of instruments, many seldom heard on the recital platform”, Ruth Bonetti, co-Instrumental Adjudicator. “We are especially enthralled by those whose technique is servant to exquisite musicianship”, said Mrs Bonetti. Mrs Bonetti said it was a shame the competition was not being filmed and broadcast on national television as New Zealand deserved to see just how good the competitors were.

 Winners

Instrumental

First: Hilary Hayes,

Second: Thomas Hutchinson

Third: Heather Lewis

Speech and Drama

First: Christian Thurston

Second: Taylor Frost

Third: Emma Griffith

Highland and National Dance

First: Emma Cropper

Second: Jayden Withington

Third: Ellena Soper

Modern Dance:

First: Katie Rudd

Second: Kieran van Bunnik

Third: Viva Foster

Potential Prizes: Highland, Leighton Terry; Instrumental, Oscar Lavën and Anna Kiriaev; Modern Dance, Stephanie Vos, Speech and Drama Annaleise Booth.  Prize for unplaced Modern Dance finalists:  Cameron Fulton; Sydney Crocker; and Rebecca Lee.

Deanna Watson, President of the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand thanked  all those who attended and the sponsors, particularly the Mazda Foundation, Community Trust of Southland, Invercargill  Licensing Trust and ILT Foundation for the tremendous support of the awards. Mrs Watson also acknowledged the official accompanist, John Van Buskirk and official piper, Jorden Caig for their tremendous support to the performers. She also acknowledged the 52 member PACANZ societies for providing such a high level of nominees, Dance Southland who hosted the awards, the many volunteers working behind the scenes, and the teachers, parents, adjudicators and performers who worked so hard to make the awards a success.

 Sue Patterson

Executive Officer

Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand