Music

Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship 2014 Winner Announced

Credit: Dr J Clarke

Credit: Dr J Clarke

The Trust Company, part of Perpetual, today announced James Hullick as the 2014 winner of the $60,000 Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship.

Established in 2006, the Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship is awarded to an Australian post-graduate pianist to help further their career overseas.

The two-year scholarship is awarded to an applicant who demonstrates technical mastery of the piano and displays originality, imagination, creativity and a demonstrated desire to pursue piano and music in the 21st Century. It was established by the will of the late Susan Mary Remington to celebrate the work and achievements of Australian pianist and composer Michael Kieran Harvey.

Mr Hullick won the 2014 scholarship with an approach to piano performance described by Michael Kieran Harvey as compelling, confronting and profoundly unorthodox.

“James shows a deeply philosophical and unique approach to his musical destiny, led by a sense of integrity and concern for the human condition. He is astonishingly ambitious in his goal to advocate for a new conceptualisation of ‘keyboard culture’ and his highly developed musical philosophy makes him a very worthwhile recipient of this scholarship,” Mr Harvey said.

Mr Hullick said he was deeply humbled by the win and intends to use the scholarship to encourage other “ugly duckling pianists” to pursue their creative visions.

“The Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship serves as a wonderful opportunity to encourage pianists across Australia to be sonically adventurous — to consider how their own practice might help transition Australian keyboard culture into the 21st Century,” Mr Hullick said.

“In receiving this award I can see that there is currently a national cultural shift in the sonic arts, where Australians are opening their minds to a more infinite understanding of their collective creative voice.”

Mr Hullick intends to further his piano passion in Switzerland, Germany and England in 2015. He will also pursue local opportunities, such as the Bendigo Festival of Exploratory Music, where he will work with the Amplified Elephants – musicians with intellectual disabilities – to create a synthesiser show.

Perpetual’s General Manager of Philanthropy, Andrew Thomas, congratulated Mr Hullick on his win.

“Perpetual is proud to support the Michael Kieran Harvey Scholarship and talented individuals such as James Hullick.”

“Privately funded scholarships provide much needed support for the arts in this country and demonstrate the value that philanthropy can add to the ongoing advancement of our local talent.”

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