N.Z. PIANIST IN LONDON

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 3

N.Z. PIANIST IN LONDON

ACADEMY OF MUSIC APPOINTMENT

A New Zealand pianist, Miss Georgina Smith, of Milburn, has been appointed a sub-professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Her original scholarship awarded by the Royal Schools of Music for three years has been extended for another year.

Miss Smith, a former pupil of Miss Rona Thomson, of Dunedin, is studying the piano, harmony and composition in London. When she began the Royal Schools’ of Music examinations, she gained distinction marks from the English examiners, who conducted the examinations in New Zealand. She gained the L.R.S.M. diploma in three branches—piano, theory and musicianship, with highest marks in New Zealand in each subject.

Miss Smith also attended the University of Otago and gained the Bachelor of Music degree. She was awarded three prizes—the Charles Begg Scholarship, the Philip Neil Memorial Prize for Composition, and the Fanny Evans Travelling Scholarship. In 1952 she was awarded by the Royal Schools of Music a three year scholarship, and in 1954, she began her studies at the Royal Academy of Music. At the end of that year she gained the Farjeon prize for composition for the highest marks in harmony, and in 1955 the silver medal for the highest marks in piano playing.

In 1956 Miss Smith was the only student to pass the difficult Division V keyboard harmony examination. She also gained her L.R.A.M diploma, and, the Townsend Scholarship for the highest marks in piano playing, which entitles her to a further year’s study at the academy.