News From The Esseham Music Charity

With Spring now here the trustees wanted to update our supporters on our Grant Award Winners for this year, as well as some developments for the charity going forwards.

With a record number of applications in 2022, the panel were delighted to award grants to eleven young musicians from the area. The Christina Ward Memorial Scholarship for students learning a keyboard instrument goes to Shoshona Yugin-Power. Shoshona not only plays the piano at diploma level but also diploma level flute and grade eight bassoon and recorder. Shoshona will use her grant towards the Hampshire Music Service, Easter residential course for Hampshire County Youth Orchestra at Bryanston with remaining funds going towards the purchase of a new bassoon. Support for attending the HCYO course at Bryanston also goes to the following award winners - Oskar Szcepanski (viola), a sixth form student on the Peter Symonds specialist music course; brother and sister Ainslie (piano & violin) and Annika Rosendorf (piano, flute & violin); Saba Ghandi (cello & piano); Milo Grant-Turton (piano); Lucy Franklin (violin); and Josephine Plummer (violin). HCYO works with some of the most talented young musicians in the county, and we know that the award-winners and the orchestra really appreciate the Charity’s support.

In addition, Caitlin Steven receives a grant towards the cost of studying for her Dip ABRSM in singing, and William Dear, piano and organ, receives a grant to attend a composing course this summer. Finally Tom O’Brien, trumpet, who attends Moor House school in Frensham is awarded a grant towards the Hampshire County Band tour to Europe this summer.

To date proceeds from the Festival awarded in grants to support young musicians are more than £9000 and the trustees are incredibly grateful for your support and the positive impact you have on our grant award winners.

If you would like to continue to support these young musicians, donations are welcomed to the following bank account:

Nat West Bank THE ESSEHAM MUSIC CHARITY Acc no 44159870

Sort code 60-01-13.

Please do let us know if you need a gift aid form.

After much discussion the Trustees have decided that it is not practical to continue with The Lasham Classical Music Festival but will continue to provide grants to local young musicians whilst funds remain. Applications for this year’s round of awards are invited from September 1st to October 31st and all details on criteria can be found on our website lashammusicfestival.co.uk under The Esseham Music Charity with online application opening on September 1st 2023.

Audience members may be interested to know that Abel Selaocoe who played at the 2016 festival with Kabantu (Project Jam Sandwich) has just been named Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year. Our Musical Director was in Belfast recently performing with The Ulster Orchestra where Abel was a soloist.

Thank you to all our audience members and supporters for their enthusiasm and support for our events over the past eight years,