Friends of WASO Scholarship

In 2010, the Friends of WASO Scholarship was created to enable full time members of the Orchestra to take up opportunities for professional development, both in Australia and overseas. The funds can be used to assist with travel, tuition, attendance at conferences, masterclasses and other learning activities.

Funds for the Scholarship are generated through Friends events held throughout the year, including the ever popular WASO in Rehearsal and Meet the Section events. In supporting these scholarships, the Friends of WASO have highlighted the importance of providing development opportunities for individuals within the Orchestra. Regardless of their experience or career stage, all musicians can benefit from opportunities for development, such as the experience of learning from great master performers.

“The importance of providing ongoing training cannot be underestimated and these scholarships provide a way for the Friends of WASO to contribute to this important endeavour,” said former Friends of WASO President Fred Affleck. “We hope we can help to keep our talented musicians here in Perth by providing opportunities for them to travel, network and connect to the international community of musicians.”

2012 Winner

Congratulations to Louise Sandercock, 2012's recipient of the Friends of WASO Scholarship. Louise is a bit of a WASO veteran having played with Orchestra since 1988. Louise is also a prolific teacher and a state committee member of the Australian String Teachers Association. She has recently gained a Fellowship of Music, the highest degree of examination under the auspices of the Australian Music Examinations Board.

As part of her scholarship trip, Louise participated in two summer school courses, in Trieste, Italy and St Paul, Austria during July 2012. Both courses included significant opportunity for lessons, as well as observing the teaching practice of other participants. Louise undertook tuition from Professor Helfried Fister, Director of Strings at the Klagenfurt Conservatorium, Austria. Professor Fister is a particularly well-regarded teacher and long-time jury member of the European Brahms competition. 

2011 Winners

Our warmest congratulations go to our 2011 Friends of WASO Scholarship recipients, Associate Concertmaster Margaret Blades and Double Bass Mark Tooby. Each musician received $5,000 contributing to their professional development program. 

Margaret undertook a three to four week tour across Europe and the United Kingdom working with different teachers, attending classes and observing their methods of teaching. She was “excited about the opportunity of visiting distinguished pedagogues and institutions to have some lessons, attend master classes, and refine new techniques in the art of violin teaching and playing.”

Mark used his funds to organise a job exchange with a bass player from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for a four month period in 2012. This provided Mark with the opportunity to enhance and develop his technique, as well as being exposed to fresh ideas and different schools of playing – both as a musician and as part of an orchestra.

Mark had private tuition with some of the leading international musicians, attended masterclasses and watched as many orchestral concerts as he could fit in! Mark, like Margaret, is passionate about teaching and transferring his knowledge to the next generation of bass players. 

We wish both Margie and Mark well with their future plans and look forward to hearing more about their adventures.

2010 Winners

In 2010 Principal Percussion Tim White, former Principal Oboe Joel Marangella and Tutti Viola Kierstan Arkleysmith each received a share of the $10,000 of funding provided by the scholarship which enabled them to pursue a range of professional development opportunities.

Kierstan Arkleysmith used the funds to attend the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands for fitting and trial of a chin and shoulder rest setup. Kierstan also took lessons in the Alexander Technique which addresses bad habits of posture and movement and helps to develop even distribution of muscle tone. It is a technique that has proved to be extremely helpful for many musicians.

Joel Marangella attended a ProGouge Seminar at the Michigan State University in the United States where he will learn reed making skills not currently available to him in Australia. Tim White travel to the US for the 2010 International Convention of Percussive Arts in Indianapolis after heading to Queensland in August for the Percussion Gathering at the Queensland Conservatorium.