Riley surpasses peers with performance
VIOLINIST Riley Skevington has beaten out eight other finalists to win the prestigious Australian Youth Classical Music Competition national prize.
The young West Australian took home a $10,000 overseas travel scholarship yesterday, following an afternoon of exquisite performances from some of the world’s most talented young classical musicians.
Pianist Kevin Chow was awarded a second prize of $3000, while pianist Michael Li was awarded a $2000 third prize.
Violinist Natalia Harvey was awarded a $1000 fourth prize.
Skevington, who graduated from the University of Western Australia and is currently studying at the Australian National Academy of Music, has performed at international festivals and venues throughout Europe and China.
He joined the Australian Chamber Orchestra as an Emerging Artist in 2016, and has participated in three international tours as concertmaster of the Australian Youth Orchestra.
Skevington has also been the recipient of the Australian Youth Orchestra’s distinguished Richard Pollett Memorial Award, which is awarded to outstanding young violinists.
The Australian Youth Classical Music Competition was established in 1990. Originally known as the
Geelong-Advertiser Music Scholarship Trust, it was formed through an initial grant of $60,000 made by the Geelong Advertiser.
Australian solo classical musicians aged between 16 and 25 can enter.
Apart from its national prize, the competition also recognises exceptional talent from the Geelong region.
Year 11 pianist and Geelong College student An Trinh was the recipient of this year’s regional first prize, for which she won the Geelong Chamber Music Prize of $2000.