Mid Canterbury high school students Ricky Davies, Jorja Abernethy and Sobriety Disciple have each been awarded a $100 Mid Canterbury Choir scholarship.
They will also make guest appearances at the Mid Canterbury Choir annual Celebrate Christmas performances in Ashburton on Friday, December 12.
Choir manager Carol Gunn said via a statement that Ricky, year 13 at Mount Hutt College, was involved in many school activities regarding the arts, such as the concert band, jazz big band and chamber music group, where she plays trombone and has been a part of for the past few years. This year she joined the Ashburton Silver Band.
While playing piano for the Mount Hutt College school choir, she has won the award for best accompanist at the 2025 Big Sing.
She intends to use the scholarship to put towards the purchase of her own instruments and further education.
Next year, Ricky plans to attend Victoria University in Wellington for a Bachelor of Music focusing on classical performance.
Jorja, of Ashburton College, has been a part of multiple years of music evenings and Red Carpet Evenings at the school, along with attending and performing in Summer Singing School for around six years now.
She has been in the Phoenix Chorus for three years.
Receiving this scholarship means a lot to Jorja as it recognises her dedication to music and her commitment to the school choir.
She plans to use the scholarship purchase wireless microphones, regularly used in performance, allowing her to practice more effectively. She plans to carry on with attending and performing at Summer Singing School.
Sobriety, year 12 at Ashburton Christian School, is a member of the Soli Deo Gloria choir at the school encouraging other members and learning harmonies quickly. She also sings at her church in the worship team.
She said she feels honoured to receive this scholarship and loves choir singing as it involves working together to create harmonious sound.
Sobriety planned to use the scholarship for singing lessons to expand her ability to sing and help her to find different styles of music.
Meanwhile, members of the Mid Canterbury Choir are preparing for their Celebrate Christmas performances on Friday, December 12. Under the musical direction or Kathy McKimmie with accompanist Deborah Sloper, the choir will perform at the Baring Square Church, in Ashburton at 12pm and 6pm.
Entry for the performances is $5 per person, plus a Christmas treat gift of non-perishable food for the Salvation Army Foodbank.
