A violin protege’s the first recipient of the Jardine Cup, awarded by Queenstown’s Turn Up The Music School for musical excellence.
Elton Letherbarrow, 9, was selected from more than 60 performers at the school’s end-of-year concerts, and presented with the cup by award founder Jillian Jardine, recently awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy.
Elton’s violin teacher Sheena Naughton says the award recognises the progress he’s made over the past year — ‘‘he works so hard and he is just so keen to improve his playing’’.
Also at the presentation was the school’s director, Emma Wilson, who says it’s ‘‘wonderful’’ to recognise outstanding musical achievement through the Jardine Cup.
‘‘We are hugely grateful to Jillian and Dick for helping to get the music school established, and for their ongoing support for everything we do.’’
Established four years ago, the school now has 16 teachers offering lessons on a wide variety of instruments, including saxophone, flute, trumpet and guitar.
