The Osoyoos and District Arts Council has named its latest scholarship winners as a memorial tribute to longtime Osoyoos music teacher Dorothy Fraser. The students receive a plaque, keeper trophy and a scholarship of $100. This year’s winners were Natalia Ibanez-Richer (centre) and Kendra Leinor. They were presented with their awards by Sue Whittaker (left), president of the Osoyoos and District Arts Council. (Photo supplied)
The Osoyoos and District Arts Council instituted an annual award to promote excellence and achievement in piano as a memorial tribute to Dorothy Fraser several years ago.
The award consists of a perpetual plaque, a keeper trophy and a scholarship of $100.
To be eligible for this award, a student must live or take lessons from a teacher in the Osoyoos area and must submit marks from an authorized school of music for any practical examination session during the current year.
The award is presented to the student that submits the documentation to prove that he or she has achieved the highest mark in their exam.
It has been 19 years now since this award was established.
Susan Whittaker, the president of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council, presented the most recent award at a recital in the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Natalia Ibanez-Richer, 15, old Kendra Leinor, 13, were the recipients this year.
They both achieved the mark of 85 per cent on their conservatory exams during the year of 2013.
Ibanez-Richer completed Grade 6 and Leinor completed Grade 2.
The memorial plaque will be displayed at the Osoyoos Art Gallery which is open to the public daily.
Fraser taught piano in Osoyoos for 49 years before her death in May 1995.
During that time, she established the Western Board of Music exam centre in Osoyoos, was active in the Osoyoos & District Arts Council and the South Okanagan Concert Society and was well known as a constant supporter and promoter of the arts.
Janet Marcotte is one of her former students and continues to have the Conservatory Canada exam center in Osoyoos.
Fraser taught piano and music to several hundred Osoyoos and area students over almost five decades and helped influence them musically and personally in a very positive manner, said Whittaker.
The arts council is determined to keep her memory alive by awarding the annual scholarships to talented and committed piano students. she said.
Marcotte has continued the tradition of excellence established by Fraser and numerous young students from this community continue to pursue musical excellence, she said.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Osoyoos Times
