Media release
27 November 2009

School of Music graduates win annual Aotea Star Award

Two graduates of The University of Auckland’s School of Music have both been awarded the annual AOTEA STAR AWARD.

Flautist Liam Mallett and violinist Amalia Hall will receive the award, which is given to individuals who show excellence in their artistic field and who will “benefit greatly” from a grant.

Born in Whangarei, Liam Mallett trained at the University’s School of Music under acclaimed flautist and conductor Associate Professor Uwe Grodd. After excelling in a number of national competitions, Liam graduated with first class honours in 2004 and moved to Germany. He studied under Felix Renggli at the Hochschule fur Musick Freiburg in Breisgau and currently studies at the Universitῡt de Kunste Berlin with Roswitha Staege. Liam has performed throughout the northern hemisphere and successfully competed in major competitions in the United Kingdom and Europe. Liam was recently engaged at short notice to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle for two concerts and is currently playing with thῥ Goteborg Symphony orchestra.

Violinist Amalia Hall has astounded international audiences with her technically precise and emotionally resonant performances of both classical and contemporary works. Amalia completed her BMus at the School of Music in 2008 and is now studying at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under the guidance of Pamela Frank and Joseph Silverstein. Over the years, Amalia has won a number of national competitions around New Zealand, performed as a soloist and chamber musician, and received a number of coveted scholarships and grants to assist with her international travel and tuition costs.

Since its incorporation in 1995 the Aotea Centre Performing Arts Trust (ACPAT) has awarded $537,000. The Trust has a policy of supporting a wide range of performing arts and since its inception 500 individuals and 25 groups have received grants.

In awarding this year’s AOTEA STAR AWARD, Trustees felt these two applicants were both deserving of the award. Diana Fenwick, QSO, Chair of ACPAT said the outstanding excellence shown by both these talented musicians made a decision impossible and as an exception the Board decided that on this occasion both Liam and Amalia would receive an award of $1ᾰ,000 each.

The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.

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