The Tait Memorial Trust is pleased to be assisting these fine young Australian artists in 2014

In 2014 Tait Awards have increased by 27% from 2013/14. This increase has largely been due to the excellent response to our new Friends scheme and the increased level of donations from our generous supporters. The names of our Friends and our major donors can be found here

With our new ‘Adopt a Performer’ scheme we have two scholarships of £5,000 per annum over three years. The aim of this scheme is to offer continuity of funding to the artists over the term of their academic studies and to link a donor directly with an awardee.

Kevin Penkin, Tait Scholar
Kevin Penkin, Tait Scholar

Last year Kevin Penkin, composer, was the inaugural ‘Tait Scholar’ supported by the Baring family. This year he continues his studies at The Royal College of Music. We are delighted that Kevin has agreed to accept our commission for a new piece of music for flute and orchestra entitled, Changing Feet, to be premiered at our Winter Prom 9th December 2014. Tait Awardee, Nicola Crowe is to play the flute solo.

Waynne Kwon, cello, Higgins Family scholar
Waynne Kwon, cello, Higgins Family scholar

Waynne Kwon, cello is the inaugural recipient of the Higgins family scholarship. Waynne is about to commence his undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Though our Partner organisations we are supporting Gerard Schneider, tenor Royal Over-Seas League; Panayiota Kalatzis, soprano and winner of the 2014 Australian International Opera Awards is the recipient of the Frank and Viola Tait Award and we continue our support of the Sir Charles Mackerras Chair at the Southbank Sinfonia. This years recipient is Nicola Crowe, flute.

Gerard Schneider, tenor
Gerard Schneider, tenor
Panayiota Kalatzis, soprano
Panayiota Kalatzis, soprano

This year we are supporting 4 singers, 3 cellists, 2 accompanists, 3 composers, 1 viola, 1 flute and for the first time we are supporting a Trio, The Darian Trio which is based in Vienna.

We have a fund of £8,000 to support The Leanne Benjamin Awards for 2014/15  This fund was the result of The Leanne Benjamin Awards launch at The Royal Ballet School and a generous donation from Lady Roberttson. These awards will be announced later this year.

Nicola Crowe - Sir Charles Mackerras Chair
Nicola Crowe, flute
Adam Szabo
Adam Szabo, cello
Sam Sakker
Sam Sakker, tenor
Chad Vindin
Chad Vindin, piano
Peter Wilson
Peter Wilson, composer
2011 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Semi-Finals
Joanna Norman, soprano
Lisa Bucknell
Lisa Bucknell, soprano
Luke Styles
Luke Styles, composer

Adopt a Performer – £5,000 per annum over three years

Kevin Penkin, composition
Royal College of Music
http://www.kpenkmusic.com/
Tait Scholar

Wayne Kwonn, Cello
Royal Northern College of Music
Higgins Family Award

Lisa Bucknell, Viola
Royal College of Music

Michael Whalley & Karen Goldie Morrison Award

General Awards

Gerard Schneider, tenor
Australian musician showing the most promise
http://www.gerardschneider.com/
Royal Over-Seas League Prize

Sam Sakker, tenor
http://www.samuelsakker.com/
Baring Amis Award

Joanna Norman Soprano
Royal Northern College of Music
The Googie Withers Award

Chad Vindin, Accompanist

Home

Private advanced language lessons

Alison Frilingos, Cello
Darian Trio http://www.dariantrio.com/en/
Chamber Music Masterclass Manchester, 2015

Adam Szabo, Cello

Private lessons
Thornton Foundation

Sabina Im, Piano
London Master Classes

Peter Wilson, Composer/ Piano,
Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Nicola Crowe, Flute
Southbank Sinfonia
Sir Charles Mackerras Chair

Panayiota Kalatzis, Soprano
Australian International Opera Awards
Frank and Viola Tait Award

Luke Styles, Composer
http://www.lukestyles.com/
Julian Baring Award

James Ioelu, Baritone
Tait Memorial Trust Award
Bel Canto Awards
Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

James Ioelu, Baritone
James Ioelu, Baritone

 

Ballet – The Leanne Benjamin Awards at The Royal Ballet School
https://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/leannebenjaminawards
tbc £8,000

https://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Awards2014

Tait Friends at Stoke Lodge 18th March 2014

On Tuesday March 18th the Trust invited our Friends to the home of the Australian High Commissioner, Stoke Lodge. The evening was hosted by Sasha Carruozzo, wife of Mike Rann CNZM the Australian High Commissioner, and by Tait Memorial Trust Chairman, Isla Baring OAM. The Trust are terribly grateful to Mike and Sasha and want to publicly thank them for their generosity in allowing us to use their home to entertain our guests.

Isla Baring OAM giving her welcome speech to our guests
Lindsay Birrell, President of Legacy UK, Isla Baring OAM and Mrs Jenny Dunn
Lindsay Birrell, President of Legacy UK, Isla Baring OAM and Mrs Jenny Dunn
Tait Friends, Mr and Mrs Ian Tegner with TMT Awardee, Benjamin Mellefont
Tait Friends, Mr and Mrs Ian Tegner and Mrs Karen Goldie-Morrison with TMT Awardee 2013, Benjamin Mellefont

We were delighted to welcome many of our most valued and generous supporters, the Deputy Australian High Commissioner, Mr Andrew Todd and his wife, and the Agents’ General of Western Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

Awardees present included: Greta Bradman, Soprano; Benjamin Mellefont, Clarinet; Xenia Deviatkina-Loh, Violin; Sophie Moffatt, Ballet; Kevin Penkin, Composition (2013/14 Tait Scholar); Calvin Richardson, Ballet and Adam Szabo, Cello.

Great Bradman TMT Awardee with Sasha Carruozzo
Greta Bradman TMT Awardee with Sasha Carruozzo

Joining us was Sam Sakker, a young Australian tenor who is to sing at the Royal Opera House in their Jette Parker Young Artist Programme from September 2014, who sang Lehar’s classic, Dein is mein ganzes Herz and the Australian National Anthem all a capella. He has the most thrilling voice with the richest/warmest tone. Adam Szabo, Tait Awardee 2013, played some selections from JS Bach’s cello suites…incredibly beautifully.

TMT Awardees 2013, Calvin Richardson & Sophie Moffatt with Miss Leanne Benjamin OBE and Tait Friend, Mrs Sue Lloyd
TMT Awardees 2013, Calvin Richardson & Sophie Moffatt with Miss Leanne Benjamin OBE and Tait Friend, Mrs Sue Lloyd

 Tait Friends

We launched our new Friends scheme which includes a new initiative called, Adopt a Performer. The scheme would link a donor, or a group of donors, to one awardee for three years ( the length of the typical undergraduate degree or course) For a minimum subscription of £75 Tait Friends receive discounts to Tait events and an invitation to an annual reception. The greatest benefit to all donors is the knowledge that they are making a tangible difference to the life of a young Australian performing artist. More information about our new Friends scheme can be found here

 Julian Gavin, new Tait Patron

Our new Patron, Australian international tenor, Julian Gavin was introduced to our Friends and has agreed to join our Music Board (the selection process for the 2014/15 awards begins soon. Applications for music awards close on Monday 31st March. More info here

The Leanne Benjamin Awards

Isla Baring OAM with Leanne Benjamin OBE
Isla Baring OAM with Leanne Benjamin OBE

An honoured guest was Australian principal ballerina, Leanne Benjamin OBE. Recently retired from The Royal Ballet after a 21 year first class career with the company, Miss Benjamin has agreed to join us to create a new award(s) in her name which will help fund the studies of young Australian dancers in the UK. Called The Leanne Benjamin Awards the Trust are producing a gala reception with a masterclass taken by Miss Benjamin and Australian senior teacher at the school, Mark Annear, at The Royal Ballet School, Floral Street, Covent Garden. This fundraising event will be held in the Linden Studio at The Royal Ballet School on Thursday 12th June. We are very grateful to the staff and students at the school for allowing us to use this excellent venue for our event.

 

 

Tickets to this special Tait event are available here

 

Tait Patron, Julian Gavin with Tait Committee member, Jan Gowrie-Smith and Tait Trustee, Susie Thornton
Tait Patron, Julian Gavin with Tait Committee member, Jan Gowrie-Smith and Tait Trustee, Susie Thornton
Adam Szabo, Cello. Awardee 2013 playing at the Tait Friends event
Adam Szabo, Cello. Awardee 2013 playing at the Tait Friends event
Tenor, Sakker with TMT Executive Director, James Hancock and the Queensland Agent General, Ken Smith OBE
Tenor, Sakker with TMT Executive Director, James Hancock and the Queensland Agent General, Ken Smith OBE
TaitFriends_Stoke_Lodge_180314_PamelaleCouter_GretaBradman_ShirleyBarr
Tait Friend, Mrs Pamela le Couter; TMT Awardee 2013, Greta Bradman and Tait Trustee, Mrs Shirley Barr
Group shot of Awardees with Isla Baring OAM, Julian Gavin, Sam Sakker and Leanne Benjamin OBE
Group shot of Awardees with Isla Baring OAM, Julian Gavin, Sam Sakker and Leanne Benjamin OBE

Five new singers to join the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme in September 2014 < News – Royal Opera House

Lauren Fagan, Soprano

Thrilled to be able to announce that 2013 Tait Awardee, Lauren Fagan has been offered a place in the Royal Opera House, Jette Parker Young Artists Programme to begin in September 2014. The news is even sweeter as two other young Australian singers have also been offered a place; Tenor, Sam Sakker and Baritone, Samuel Johnson. Congratulations to you all

 

Five new singers to join the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme in September 2014 < News – Royal Opera House.