Susan Whittaker (left), past president of the Osoyoos and District Arts Council, presents the annual Dorothy Fraser memorial award to Mataya Leinor, 11. Leinor achieved a mark of 89 per cent on her Grade One Royal Conservatory of Music piano exam in 2014.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Osoyoos and District Arts Council instituted award 20 years ago to promote excellence in music
The Osoyoos and District Arts Council instituted an annual award to promote excellence and achievement in piano as a memorial tribute to Dorothy Fraser.
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 will be 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 20 years now since this award was established.
The award was presented at a recital in the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 5 by Susan Whittaker, past-president of the Osoyoos Arts Council.
Mataya Leinor, 11, is this year’s recipient. She achieved the mark of 89 per cent on her Grade One Royal Conservatory of Music piano exam during the year of 2014.
The memorial plaque will be displayed at the Osoyoos Art Gallery.
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 and District Arts Council and the South Okanagan Concert Society and was well known as a constant supporter and promoter of the arts.
Well-known piano and music teacher Janet Marcotte is one of her former students. She continues to have the Conservatory Canada exam center in Osoyoos and is also the president of the South Okanagan Concert Society.
The Osoyoos and District Arts Council is very pleased to be able to hand out this prestigious award every year and encourage young and talented local musicians to pursue excellence, said Whittaker.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Osoyoos Times
