Patricia Pratt Scholarship awarded to talented violinist and bassoonist

Two talented young musicians have been awarded the 2015 Patricia Pratt Scholarship in Musical Performance enabling them to continue their postgraduate development at a renowned international music school.

Violinist Olivia Francis will complete her Master of Performance at the Royal College of Music in London.  Olivia has a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland and a Licentiate Diploma with Distinction from the Royal Schools of Music.

Earlier this year Olivia played in a concert for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace as a member of the Royal College of Music Chamber Orchestra.  While in New Zealand she was a member of the Rothko Quartet, Auckland Youth Orchestra and NZ Pops Orchestra.  She was a Concertmaster for the NZSO National Youth Orchestra for two years.

Todd Gibson-Cornish will complete a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Bassoon Performance also at London’s Royal College of Music.

At the age of 19, Todd toured Madrid with the London Symphony Orchestra and is currently contract playing with the Philharmonic Orchestra.  In 2013 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship at the Royal College of Music enabling him to transfer his undergraduate study from the University of Canterbury.

David Bremner, the Convenor of the Selection Panel, congratulated both Olivia and Todd and wished them well for their international music careers.  He also acknowledged the Kia Ora Foundation for their support.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Kia Ora Foundation, talented New Zealand classical performers can further their study at renowned institutions and achieve international recognition,” he said.

The Scholarship has been established by Annette Campbell-White from the Kia Ora Foundation in memory of her mother, Patricia Pratt.  It assists outstanding young New Zealand musicians to continue their musical development at a renowned international music school or conservatorium for up to two years.  The scholarship is awarded for classical music performance, including vocal or instrumental performance or conducting, and is valued up to US$45,000 per annum.

Universities New Zealand, also known as New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, administers this scholarship in addition to 40 other undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships each year.  Applications for the 2016 Patricia Pratt Scholarship close on 1 March next year.