Young Auckland musicians win Excellence Awards

Young Auckland musicians win Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Awards

Three young Aucklanders have had a financial boost to their artistic careers thanks to the Dame Malvina Major Foundation. The Foundation’s Auckland Committee has awarded Arts Excellence Awards totalling $10,000 to pianist Delvan Lin and violinists Shauno Isomura and Maia-Dean Martin.

Seventeen-year old Delvan is currently studying Performance Piano at the University of Auckland and has been accepted into the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music's Young Artist Summer Programme in Philadelphia. He was awarded $5,000 to assist with this venture.

Shauno (23) has just completed an Honours degree in Music Performance at the University of Auckland and was awarded $3,000 towards travel to the US to audition for a range of musical Institutions.

Fifteen-year-old Maia-Dean was awarded $2,000 towards her studies with celebrated violin teacher Mary O’Brien.

Dame Malvina Major, who adjudicated the awards, said the standard of applications was exceptional, but the three winners stood out for their talent, motivation and maturity beyond their years.

“I am very happy that the Foundation can help develop the huge potential of these young artists. They truly exemplify the Foundation’s ethos of ‘from grass roots to excellence’.”

The Dame Malvina Major Foundation helps young New Zealanders in the performing arts achieve their potential by providing education and training opportunities. Arts Excellence Awards are awarded annually by regional committees in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Taranaki and the Waikato.

ENDS

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