THE WHITWORTH ROACH Classical Music Performance Competition at the ANU School of Music has been won by a brilliant classical guitarist and PHD student, Callum Henshaw.
The competition was supported through a donation from Christine Roach and featured a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000 and a third prize of $2,500. A people’s choice prize winner was awarded $2,500.
To be eligible, competitors need to be enrolled full-time at ANU in an undergraduate or postgraduate program. They can be domestic or international students studying any discipline.
Twelve students from across the ANU contended for a share in the $20,000 prize money.
Henshaw took out People’s Choice and First Prize. Hamish Strathdee, an ANU School of Music student, won second prize, and Mia Huang, also a student at the school, won third prize.
The competition run also included performances and contributions from visiting artists, including the Australian String Quartet, who also served as adjudicators.
“You’re selecting the best performing students, and you just hope that they’ll continue on and perform and let all the community know all the pleasures and joys of music,” sponsor Christine Roach said of the process.
“As the School of Music considers its options and plans to rebuild itself, the generosity of donors like Christine Roach gives the School the recognition it deserves and the motivation to aspire to something better,” Interim Head of the ANU School of Music, Professor Will Christie, said.
As part of the Whitworth Roach Competition exchange, Henshaw and Strathdee will be performing between 12-1pm, tomorrow, Friday September 30 in the ‘Rhythm and Blooms Festival’ at Floriade.
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