Singing school teacher wins award
Southland musicians have returned from the Country Music Dunedin Awards with 11 wins.
Lumsden school teacher Lana Stevens was overall senior winner and won the open songwriting and senior country rock sections at the awards recently. She was second in the senior female vocal solo.
The other five winners from Southland were Holly Muirhead, Tahla Ward, Josh Smith, Sarah Finnerty and Sue Smith.
Stevens said she was delighted to be the overall senior winner. ‘‘There was a very high standard, especially in the finals.
‘‘I take things as they come. I don’t enter to win, I enter because I enjoy it and if I win, it’s a bonus.’’
Her next major competition will be the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore in May. She has been performing at it for 21 years.
As well as music and teaching, Stevens’s busy life also includes riding show jumpers (summer) and eventing horses (winter).
‘‘There’s not too many free weekends.’’
Verdon College student Holly Muirhead impressed with wins in intermediate country rock, traditional and vocal solo. She was overall runner up in intermediate and filled the same placing in intermediate gospel.
Holly and Tahla Ward won the intermediate duet section.
‘‘I was really happy [with my results],’’ Holly said.
Holly’s success has reinforced her decision to compete at the Auckland Country Music Awards in April. In the short term, she will be the opening act for The Narcs at the Southland Musicians Club in Invercargill on December 12.
Ten days later, she will be entertaining, for the fourth year, at the ILT Christmas Variety Show at Stadium Southland, Invercargill.This year she is performing in the high school group Senior Rising Stars.