Ernest Empson Scholarship update.
It is with regret the Christchurch Civic Music Council informs everyone that the Ernest Empson Scholarship, in its original form, has now ceased.
At an Executive meeting of the Christchurch Civic Music Council on Thursday 12th March 2020, with approval of a member of the Empson family, it was agreed the Ernest Empson Scholarship is to be re-formatted.
The Ernest Empson Scholarship fund will now be directed towards the Junior Jury prize at the National Concerto Competition.
This prize will be renamed “Ernest Empson Award” and the prize money of $200.00 will be awarded at the bi-annual piano competitions.
For further information please click on the below link:
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Previous winners – Ernest Empson Scholarship
Ernest Empson Scholarship Winner 2018 is Lixin Zhang.
Lixin is currently in his last year at Burnside High School. Lixin’s current plans include participating in as many local, national and international competitions as possible in order to gain as much performing experience as he can. Later in the year Lixin will be applying to musical institutions and universities and plans on completing a degree in music (most likely Piano performance) and move on to becoming a professional Pianist.
Lixin was also the 2017/2018 National Concerto Competition Runner-Up! We wish him well with his future studies and his continued successful musical career!
Ernest Empson Scholarship Winner for 2017
We would like to congratulate Hamish Smith who has been awarded the Ernest Empson Scholarship for 2017. Hamish is a bassist and has been recently selected for the 2017 JM Jazz World Orchestra (an international big band for the world’s best young jazz musicians aged 18-26 years of age). This was held in Groznjan, Croatia.
For the future Hamish has decided that he would like to be situated in a community that is in proximity to all of the action in the global epicentre of the Jazz industry, therefore the next step is for him to travel to New York City later this year for three months.
Being in New York will allow Hamish to take private lessons with some of the best bass players and musicians in the world, whom have been idols of his for the last ten years. Including the incomparable Matt Penman, Reuben Rogers & Ugonna Okegwo amongst others, as well as exploring and experience the New York jazz environment/scene.
Travelling to New York will also allow Hamish to make live presentations at the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music with the goal of being accepted into one of these schools to commence full time studies in 2018.
Ernest Empson Scholarship Winner for 2016
Joe Gorman
We would like to congratulate Joe Gorman who has been awarded the Ernest Empson Scholarship for 2016. Since 2015 Joe has been attending the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington studying harpsichord and historical piano under Douglas Mews. We wish him well for the remainder of his studies.
Ernest Empson Scholarship winner for 2015
Stephen Watson (Piano)
Stephen has had several offers to attend overseas universities in 2016 and he is currently deciding on his best option. We wish him well with his choice and his continued successful musical career.
Ernest Empson Scholarship winner for 2014
Samuel Jones (Saxophone)
Samuel is currently in his 3rd year at the University of Canterbury pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Saxophone performance. He plans to travel and study in Europe in 2015. We wish him all the best for his travel and studies next year!
Ernest Empson Scholarship Winner for 2013
Todd Gibson-Cornish
In September Todd will be studying at the Royal College of Music, London. He will be entering into a second year Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree. We wish him all the best with his studies and his musical career!
2012 Ernest Empson Scholarship
There were no recipients of the Ernest Empson Scholarship for 2012.
2011 Winner of the Ernest Empson Scholarship
Congratulations to Bryony Gibson-Cornish, the recipient of the 2011 Ernest Empson Scholarship.
Four other applicants, Bradley Wood, Arion Pons, Reuben Chin and Samuel Jones all applied. They are to be commended for the high quality of their applications and their work to date.
2008 was Anna Maksymova (Piano)
2007 was David Muller Cajar (French Horn)