Langley Community Music School recently awarded $11,750 in scholarships to young musicians in support of their continued arts education at the school. The 26th annual scholarship awards festival took place Feb. 5-12 and culminated in a concert on Feb. 18.
This year, 152 students entered the festival and a total of 97 awards were presented to students.
“The festival awards concert was a huge success and enjoyed by all in attendance,” said LCMS principal Susan Magnusson.
“Students presented a stellar mix of performances, ranging from strings, guitar, voice and piano. And to top it off, we were extremely pleased to distribute $11,750 in scholarships to students.”
“I would also like to commend our faculty for preparing all the students who participated in the festival this year. The playing was to a very high standard," said Magnusson.
A number of LCMS students from Langley received awards at the presentation. Ben Su, piano, won the Piano Technician’s Guild Award in memory of James Lougheed, the Mike Omelaniec Award, and shared the Mr. and Mrs. Barry Hill Award with Stephen Li, piano. Michael Yuan won the Aubrey Searle Award for most promising intermediate piano.
The LCMS scholarship awards program was established in 1986. The annual festival gives students a unique opportunity to perform and demonstrate their musicianship in a non-competitive environment. Students who show an exceptional calibre of musicianship in their performances during festival are recognized with scholarship awards.
The school established its scholarship and bursary program from the interest generated from its Vancouver Foundation endowment fund. The program supports students who excel in their music studies or who are in financial need. In addition to endowment funds, LCMS receives donations from individuals, organizations, corporate supporters and anonymous benefactors.
Prizes are established in the name of a donor or the donor’s family, a business, or organization.
There are also awards named “in memoriam” to honour the memory of loved ones. Additional scholarships are awarded later in the year through the chamber music festival and concerto competition, and the Sharon Stevenson Career Development scholarship.
“LCMS is grateful for the support afforded to our talented young artists,” said Magnusson.
“We extend our deepest thanks to the many individuals and businesses whose support and generosity makes our annual festival possible.”