Flautist Emma takes out scholarship

Gosford High School flautist Emma Deed has won the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music’s prestigious 2025 Allen Family Senior Scholarship.

Year 10 student Emma, who studies flute at the Con with Rosalie Bourne, impressed adjudicators Erin Sweetman and Carl Schmidt with her flawless performance of Ballade by Albert Périlhou and the first movement of Hisatada Otaka’s Flute Concerto at the recent finalists’ concert.

She is a member of Central Coast Youth Orchestra (CCYO) and Regional Youth Orchestra NSW (RYO) and was awarded the first prize of $3,000 to help continue her music education.

Second place of $2,000 was awarded to violinist Claire Berecry-Brown.

Claire, who recently graduated from Year 12 at Gosford High School and is also with CCYO and RYO, performed Dmitry Kavalevsky’s Violin Concerto in C Major (third movement) and Sonata No 2 (first movement) by Aleksey Igudesman.

Year 12 CCYO and RYO trombonist Anya Sandeman took home third place of $1,000 with her performance of the Preludio from Violin Sonata in F by Arcangelo Corelli.

The six finalists – all senior students at Central Coast Conservatorium of Music – took to the stage in the Robert Knox Hall for the highly anticipated annual music competition on Sunday, November 24.

The other finalists were vocalist Amaya Farri (2025 Central Coast Philharmonia/Richard Newton Vocal Scholarship recipient), Grace Moura Atkins on piano (2025 Irvine Family Senior Piano Scholarship Second Place) and guitarist Kairavan Selvarajan (2025 Music Centre Gosford Senior Guitar Scholarship recipient).

“The standard of performance and talent on display in the Allen Family Finals is always impressive and this year’s concert was no exception, and is testament to the hard work and dedication put in by these young musicians,” Conservatorium of Music Artistic Director Patrick Brennan said.

“It was a joy to see the breadth of instruments, ages and styles – from classical guitar and musical theatre to classical violin and trombone virtuosity and the romantic masterwork of a modern Japanese flute concerto.

“I would also like to congratulate and give thanks to our teachers who have done a wonderful job preparing all our students for this presentation.

“I would like to thank all of our sponsors for their ongoing support of our programs and students and give special thanks to Ray and Helen Allen’s continued significant support of our scholarship program and most of all their passion for music education.”

The Allen Family Finals were held as part of the Con’s annual Supporters’ Concert, and also featured performances from 2025 Competitive Scholarship recipients including the Allen Family Junior Scholarship winner, cellist Lucas Sequeira, and runners-up Sienna Joy Copaceanu on piano and Caitlin Swadel on flute.

2025 Irvine Family Piano Scholarship winner Kaytlin Grace Copaceanu also performed, playing Nocturne No. 7 by Daniel Hellbach.

The concert finished with a recital from last year’s Allen Family Senior Scholarship winner Elana Sydenham.