News

22nd February, 2008
KPO Announces Timetable for Award of Young Performers' Scholarship

The KPO has announced that nomination/application forms for the first KPO Young Performers' Scholarship will be available from early October 2008.

Nominations/Applications will close on 12th December 2008, and the winner of the Scholarship will be announced in early February 2009.

Musicians who have participated in concerto competitions organised by the KPO (now known as the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition) will be eligible to be nominated/apply for this Scholarship. It is envisaged the value of the inaugural KPO Young Performers' Scholarship will be at least $10,000, and (subject to available funding) that subsequent scholarships will be awarded about every three years.

Those interested in applying/being nominated for the 2009 KPO Young Performers' Scholarship should revisit this website in early October 2008.

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28th December, 2008
Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic named Australia's Community Orchestra of the Year

Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra's reputation as the leading community orchestra in Australia was reinforced last weekend when it was named as Australia's Community Orchestra of the Year for 2007 by Orchestras Australia.

This is the third time in the last six years that the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra (KPO) has received this award. It also received this Australian Community Orchestra of the Year Award from Orchestras Australia in 2002 and 2004.

When presenting the award, Orchestra Australia's Chairman Mal Hewitt made special mention of "the extensive program of activities undertaken by the KPO - which includes an annual program of 6 performances of 4 different major concert programs, plus two Kids' Proms concerts, plus organization of the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition, plus a community benefit concert for the Rotary Club of St Ives, plus three recitals for the Friends of the KPO and residents of a big retirement village, plus two day Composer Workshops to benefit 3 emerging Australian composers, plus a 'Player Day' to advance the standard of the orchestra that combined sectional tutorials and a full-orchestra rehearsal."

"All members of the KPO are volunteers, and each gives an extraordinary amount of their time to the Orchestra," KPO's President, Louise Keller, observed. "So it is really gratifying when their efforts are recognized with an award such as this from Orchestras Australia."

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2nd November, 2007
2008 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition - Entry Form available

More details...

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10th October, 2007
KPO Establishing Young Performers' Scholarship Fund

KPO is aiming to raise $30,000 over the next few years to provide funding to a number of extremely talented young NSW musicians.

The funding is intended to enable them to continue their performance studies and/or receive other training that will substantially progress their performance careers to an internationally-acclaimed standard.

The establishment of this fund coincides with and celebrates the 25th anniversary of the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition, organised annually by the KPO.

It is hoped to call for nominations for the first award in 2008, with the view to providing funding to the successful nominee in 2009.

It is anticipated each award will be for $10,000.

It is envisaged subsequent awards will be made in 2012 and 2015.

Previous entrants in concerto competitions organised by the KPO since 1984 (now known as the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition) will be eligible to apply for the funding.

It is envisaged each award will be made to a musician who has completed initial tertiary training (e.g. a bachelor's degree) and who can demonstrate they are likely to become an orchestral or classical music performer of world class. Preference is likely to be given to nominees who can also demonstrate significant need for the funding.

Each award will be administered by and decided by the then-current Artistic Director, President and Vice President of the KPO. They may decide, if in their opinion there is no suitable applicant, to not make an award in any year and/or, subject to available funding and subject to identifying suitable potential recipients of the funding, to increase or shorten the 3-year time period between awards.

Potential applicants for this award should re-visit this website from early 2008.

If you can assist KPO's efforts to establish this Young Performers' Scholarship Fund, please send your tax-deductible donation to:

KPO
PO Box 165
Pymble NSW 2073
or contact Anne on 9416 4199 or Peter on 9899 2957.

St Ives Shopping Village has become the first supporter of the fund, committing to providing funding in 2008 and giving in-principle support

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2nd July, 2007
2007 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition Winners.

More details...