Dandenong Ranges Musical Council community music coordinator Bev McAlister sings the praises of musicians all over the Hills.By Ed Merrison
HILLS residents are invited to celebrate community music with some of the finest young musicians that the region has to offer.
The Dandenong Ranges Music Council (DRMC) is holding an event to commemorate the community music achievements of 2005 on Sunday, 21 May at its headquarters at Upwey High School.
The event will also include performances by the winners of the Ann and Chris Krans Youth Music Award and the Bill Borthwick Young Musicians Encouragement Prize.
DRMC community music coordinator, Bev McAlister, said it was important to drum up an audience for the performances to reflect the role of Hills musicians in the competitions.
“The Borthwick prize is about celebrating young people in their musical endeavour. It’s for children 14 and under who are enthusiastic and play music for the sheer joy of it.
“The winner of the Krans will probably go on to some kind of professional career,” she said.
Winner and runners-up will perform at Saturday’s event, which will include afternoon tea.
The Krans award was won by violinist Sophie Hudgell, 17, from East Ringwood, whose performances of composers Vivaldi and Wieniawski beat pianist Austin Li, 11, into second place in the judging last November.
The Borthwick prize was taken out by Michael Byrne, 11, from Wantirna South, while Daniel Li came second on the oboe.
Michael got to choose $300 of CDs, sheet music and accessories, while Sophie received $500 cash for coming first in the Krans award.
“Ann Krans died just before Christmas, so this award has a touch of sadness, but her memory lives on through music and the money she placed in a trust for the future of young musicians,” Ms McAlister said.
As well as showcasing the talents of the prize winners, the event will allow time to reflect on a busy time for DRMC, which held 187 performances last year.
They included The Fire Cycle, a musical theatre extravaganza that involved a cast of about 200 people from across the shire.
This year’s projects include connecting composers with school musical projects, involving local music professionals in workshops and jam sessions with young musicians.
, and an educational program entitled The Water Cycle, which will promote smart water use.
DRMC also intends to secure funding to compose a shire song, and will continue to use music as an educational and therapeutic tool for children, families and people with disabilities.
Encouraging people of all ages and abilities to participate in and enjoy all kinds of music is what it is all about, according to Ms McAlister.
“I do this because I think it’s an incredibly worthwhile thing to do, but it’s a cast of thousands that makes it possible. It’s the most joyous organisation there is, I reckon,” she said.
