Entries are in & programs are completed for this year’s Eisteddfod. Piano has expanded to three full days & the addition of the Marjorie Lambert $1,000 Prize has created a wide interest. There are Junior piano prizes donated by The Music Teachers Association, Philip Sketchley OAM & Tom & Glenda Jones. On Saturday 24th September 6 years & 8 years old competitors will open the program at 9.30. From 1pm 10 years old compete until late afternoon. 12 years are scheduled for 5.30 pm until around 7.30pm.
Sunday 25th continues piano entries for 12 years & under & 14 years & under students all day culminating in the Millicent Sketchley Prize of $350, beginning about 3.30pm.
Monday 26th September runs from 9.30 am to evening and has an unprecedented intake of 16, 18 and open age competitors. The Eisteddfod has received a grant of $5,000 from the estate of Marjorie Lambert for five years of a $1,000 major piano prize. There are seven competitors giving a short recital each, and the standard will be very high. This session starts at 5.30 pm.
The vocal program runs from Tuesday 27th September until Saturday 1st October, culminating in the $1,000 MCP Electronic Engineering Aria, The $500 Lauris Elms Award and the Hawkins Family & Warners Bay Lions Club $2,000 Stage & Screen Prize. Heats take place for 30 competitors from 10 am culminating in the Finals at 7pm. The winner of the Marjorie Lambert Piano Prize will be invited to perform at this event. This is a Gala event & usually well attended. Adjudicator is excellent musician, Barry Walmsley.
The Strings Division runs day & night on Monday 3rd October, Ensembles featuring groups from HSPA, Merewether High School and Newcastle Grammar School perform on Wednesday 12 October, & the Brass division follows at 5pm. Woodwinds Division is from 4.30 pm on Friday 14th October. Adjudicators for these divisions are Helen Griffith , Max Reeder & John Kellaway.
The public are very welcome at any of the Eisteddfod sessions. Entry is only $5 & patrons can stay all day. The canteen is always open for tea, coffee & light snacks. The programs for all the divisions will be on-line at lakemacquariemusicsociety.org.au
We are deeply indebted to our very large list of sponsors for the whole Eisteddfod. Without them we would not be able to offer such helpful prizemoney. There are also aggregate prizes in Piano & Vocal Divisions for 10 years to 18 years students who have gained the highest average marks. Our grateful thanks to those sponsors who have donated to those prizes.
The Music Society will organise YOUNG PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR ON March 26th 2017 at 2pm & will feature prize winners & outstanding performers from the 2016 Eisteddfod. Venue for this concert & the Eisteddfod is the Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre, Lake Street Warners Bay. Enquiries: Mercia Buck 49431672 mbuck@exemail.com.au