5MBS Young Performer of the Year, Anna Cooper,
to compete for $10,000 prize
South Australian musician Anna Cooper has won her way through to the National Final of the MBS Young Performer of the Year Award, and a chance to win the $10,000 first prize.
Anna Cooper was named the 5MBS South Australia Young Performer of the Year on Sunday, 25 September 2011. As the South Australian winner, Anna will now compete against State winners from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in the National MBS Young Performer of the Year Award.
The South Australian competition, hosted by Radio 5MBS, was held in St John’s Church, Halifax Street. Four vocalists and four instrumentalists had been chosen as finalists in the competition.
Kate Wyatt (soprano) won the Vocal Section, sponsored by Leanne Hoad. Anna Cooper (flute) won the Instrumental Section, sponsored by Size Music, and went on to be named the overall winner of the 5MBS Young Performer Award.
Kate Wyatt sang works by Argento, Milhaud, Mozart and Donizetti. She left the concert immediately after performing, to fulfil another engagement with State Opera/Tutti Ensemble singing the role of Papagena in The Magic Flute!
Kate is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Musicology. She has extensive experience in Opera, Concert and Choral performance.
Anna Cooper played Fantasie by Fauré, Moderato from Sonata in D major by Prokofiev and Very Fast from Carl Vine’s Sonata.
Anna is currently studying Bachelor of Music, Honours at the Elder Conservatorium. She is Principal Flute in the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Youth Orchestra.
All the finalists were praised by the adjudicators for the high standard of their performances.
The adjudicators for the event were Jula Szuster and John Hall OAM.
The other finalists were:
- Pianist Marianna Grynchuk is in her third year of Bachelor of Music at the Elder Conservatorium, but has been performing recitals since the age of 11, most recently with The Firm. She played Chopin and Liszt.
- Soprano Daniela Jedrzejczak is a 2011 George Boland Scholarship recipient, who has toured internationally with Co-Opera. Daniela sang Schubert, Head, Gounod and Bellini.
- Kiseok Kim (violin) was the winner of the 2010 Adelaide Eisteddfod String Recital. He has played with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, serving as concertmaster for 2 years. He played works by Kriesler and Saint-Saens.
- Baritone Spencer Darby is currently completing his Honours degree at the Elder Conservatorium, and has already performed in recital in Adelaide and with State Opera. Spencer sang an aria from Britten’s Billy Budd.
- Scott Coyte (piano) is 17 and a student at the Elder Conservatorium. He won three first prizes and one second prize in the 2011 Adelaide Eisteddfod. He played Prelude and Fugue No 24 in D minor by Shostakovich.
- Soprano Naomi Hede was unable to perform because of a conflicting commitment: in fact she was singing the role of Pamina in The Magic Flute that same afternoon!
The MBS National Young Performer of the Year Award will be held in Sydney on Sunday 27 November 2011.
The Young Performer of the Year Awards are organised by the MBS radio stations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
MBS radio stations in each State are independently managed, community stations which are members of the Australian Fine Music Network.
