MUSIC students at Solihull Sixth Form College showed off their talents in an online concert just before Christmas, while also competing for a musical scholarship fund.
The Heartfield Wharam Scholarship Concert normally takes place in October, with friends and family invited into college to listen to students audition for a bursary to be spent on music tuition of their choice.
While the pandemic has prevented the concert from taking place in person, students still performed with their performances published online instead.
In all 13 students rose to the challenge before college judges vice principal Janice Hamilton, assistant principal Zoe Bereza and music teacher Catherine Douglas.
They chose Polina Savicka, who performed Mendelssohn’s ‘Song Without Words’ Op.67 No.2 in F sharp minor on the piano as their winner.
Polina won £150 to spend on music tuition from an eminent performer of their choice.
The bursary was set up in memory of two great musicians who strongly supported music in Solihull and at the college.
Roy Heartfield was the original head of music at the college, who died in 1992, while Margaret Wharam was the former head of music at Malvern Hall and head organist at Solihull Methodist Church.
The first winner of this prize was in 1994 and for the last 25 years the scholarship fund has continued.
Catherine Douglas said: “Congratulations to Polina for her wonderful performance and well done to all 13 students who auditioned.
“We wish we could have had an audience for this concert, but I’m delighted it could still go ahead online.
“Live performance is such a valuable experience for our students and I’m sure anyone who watches the recording of this concert will agree that the standard of performance this year has been very high.”
As well as the 13 solos, the students also performed two festive songs, ending the year on a high note and as a salute to the college’s annual Christmas Concert which this year has had to be cancelled.
The concert can be viewed at https://youtu.be/9DUVx9E0eLU
