Tait Memorial Trust Announces 2024 Award Recipients

London, UK – 18th September 2024

The Tait Memorial Trust is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 awards, offering significant financial support to talented young performing artists from Australia and New Zealand who aspire to study in the United Kingdom. These grants, designed to assist artists in furthering their studies and careers either privately or at prestigious UK institutions, reflect the Trust’s enduring mission to nurture the next generation of performers. Founded in memory of Sir Frank Tait and his four brothers who played such an important part in the establishment of theatre and the performing arts in Australia and New Zealand, the Tait Memorial Trust has been a vital supporter of emerging artists for over 30 years, providing scholarships and grants to aid their development.

This year, the Trust has awarded over £80,000 to support exceptional talent.

Among the most notable music award recipients for 2024 are:

• Noah Rudd – £8,000 – Oboist from New Zealand, recipient of the Sir Charles Mackerras Chair Award, a bursary supporting his position at Sinfonia Smith Square. Supported by the Estate of Lady Mackerras. the Tait Memorial Trust, and the NZ Link Foundation.

• Zhen (Phoebe) Xu – £5000 – Oboist from New South Wales, studying at the Royal College of Music, awarded the Tait Scholar Award. Supported by the Julian Baring family.

• Rebecca Rolle – £5,000 – Musical theatre performer from Queensland, recipient of the Tait John Frost Musical Theatre Bursary, continuing her studies at Associated Studios in London. Supported by Australian musical theatre impresario, John Frost AM

Several other high-achieving artists have also been awarded significant grants, including:

• Samantha Hargreaves – Soprano, Victoria, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, White Award

• Georgia Melville – Soprano, New South Wales, Royal College of Music Opera Studio, Alastair Jackson International Opera Award, Melba Trust, Australia.

• Sarah Winn – Mezzo-Soprano, Queensland, National Opera Studio, White Award

• Su Choung – Répétiteur, New South Wales, National Opera Studio, White Award

• Felix Pascoe – Violinist, Victoria, Royal Academy of Music, Isla Baring Award

• Megan Yang – Violinist, New South Wales, Royal Academy of Music, Tait Award

• Emilia Bertolini – Soprano, Victoria, Private Studies, John Crisp Award • James Emerson – Baritone, Victoria, Royal College of Music, White Award

• Austin Haynes – Countertenor, New Zealand, Private Studies, Frank & Viola Tait Award

• Cathlyn-Rose McKellar – Music Theatre Performer, New South Wales, Private Studies, June Mendoza Award • Jessica Abrahams – Cellist, New South Wales, Royal Academy of Music, White Award

• Ella Orehek-Coddington – Mezzo-Soprano, New South Wales, Royal Academy of Music, Thornton Foundation Award • Jack Moyer – Cellist, New Zealand, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Tait Award

• Lyla Levy-Jordan – Mezzo-Soprano, New South Wales, Opera Holland Park Award, Opera Foundation for Young Australians

• Eliza Boom – Soprano, New Zealand, Performance Platform, Bel Canto Award – First Prize, Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

• Melissa Gregory – Mezzo-Soprano, Queensland, Performance Platform, Bel Canto Award – Tait Prize, Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

The Leanne Benjamin Awards, established in honour of the renowned Australian ballet dancer Leanne Benjamin OBE AM, play a crucial role in supporting young ballet talents from Australia and New Zealand. This year, the awards are providing significant financial assistance to four dancers at The Royal Ballet School, one at the English National Ballet School, and one at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. These awards enable these promising dancers to pursue their studies at the world’s top institutions, following in the footsteps of Leanne Benjamin, whose illustrious career as a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet serves as a shining example of excellence in the art of ballet.

• Zai Calliste – Ballet, Queensland, English National Ballet School, Leanne Benjamin Award

• Jade Johnstone – Ballet, New Zealand, Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance, Leanne Benjamin Award

• Henry Burgess – Ballet, New South Wales, The Royal Ballet School, Leanne Benjamin Award

• Lauren Wycherley – Ballet, New Zealand, The Royal Ballet School, Leanne Benjamin Award

• Tahlia Kirke – Ballet, Victoria, The Royal Ballet School, Leanne Benjamin Award

• LilySophia Dashwood – Ballet, Victoria, The Royal Ballet School, Leanne Benjamin Award