HONOUR FOR PIANIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23570, 5 August 1938, Page 6

HONOUR FOR PIANIST

INVERCARGILL STUDENT SUCCESS AT ROYAL ACADEMY (Special to Daily Times) INVERCARGILL, Aug. 4. Advice was received by air mail from London this week that the Invercargill pianist, Miss Janetta McStay, who was awarded a scholarship by the Royal Academy of Music and began her studies in Lqpdon in September, 1935, has added to her previous successes by winning the Challen gold medal awarded annually to the woffian student giving the best pianoforte performance in the certificate examinations at the academy. The certificate examinations are open to students who have been at the Academy for three years or more, and the winning of this medel is regarded as an important distinction. Miss McStay’s scholarship was originally tenable for two years, but it was extended for another year. Recently the Associated Board granted another extension of the term, because it was considered that her work was of outstanding merit. During her three years in London Miss McStay has achieved conspicuous success. She passed the diploma examinations for Associate of the Royal College of Music and licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, and was awarded the trophy presented to the most promising student in the harmony classes by Mr Harry Farr jeon, who is well known to students as a composer. Before leaving New Zealand she was awarded the gold medal of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for securing the highest marks in the Dominion in 1933, and in the following year she received a cash prize of £25 for the same distinction. Miss McStay was one of seven candidates in the recent certificate examinations recalled to play before the judge for the Challen Medal. Mr Herbert Fryer, of the Royal College staff, was the judge, and he awarded the medal to the Invercargill student;

The Academy closed for the long summer vacation on July 21, when Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, presented the certificates and medals won during the year at a concert arranged by Mr Frederick Moore, the well-known teacher of music, and given in the Wigmore Hall, London. Miss McStay played the “ Medtner Sonata,” this modern work being regarded as an important contribution to the programme and earning the pianist enthusiastic praise.