Three budding musicians studying in Cambridge have been presented with scholarships to encourage and advance their tuition.
Maxine Nelson from Ignite Arts Academy spots someone she knows in the crowd at a Christmas parade.
Aurora Daniels-Coleman, Keira Holden and Phaedra Rye, all students with Ignite Arts Academy, are recipients of a $5000 donation from the Cambridge-based Freemasons’ Copernicus Lodge. That will cover tuition at the academy for four terms – the current term and three into 2026 – for all three students.
Lodge Copernicus has a long history of supporting musicians and singers, with past recipients including those studying classical music at Waikato University
The scholarships mark a first from the Lodge to students at Ignite, and a first in terms of Freemasons’ support for the academy. It came about after Lodge Master Alan Wilkinson had previously arranged for some academy students to provide musical entertainment at this year’s Lodge dinners. They went down so well with members that the Lodge sought to provide funding for some of the academy’s talented students.
Wilkinson, who said music had always been part of his life, said the incentive was to encourage younger musicians, hence the shift in focus to junior music students in the community.
“Although not a great instrument scholar myself, I did enjoy seeing the different music made to each of my children, with all three learning a musical instrument,” he said.
The three scholarship recipients were selected by the academy for having demonstrated a serious approach to their studies, excellence in their chosen fields, their attitude and commitment and for being worthy of the support.
Guitar student Aurora Daniels-Coleman, 11, has been taking lessons since 2021, and keyboard student Keira Holden, 14, has been taking lessons since 2020 and is a regular attendee of the academy’s camp rock holiday programmes.
Thirteen-year-old Hamiltonian Phaedra Rae is a ukulele and vocal student, studying with the academy since 2020. She also regularly attends the camp rock holiday programmes and composes some of her own songs.
Ignite Academy founder Ray Nelson thanked the Lodge for its support. He considers music to be an ‘essential service’ and said it was great to see the community come together in such a way.
“There are a few things we can do without in life, but music is not one of them. We have students of all ages here … my eldest is 90,” he said, “and some of the best musicians I know are in their late 70s.”
He told the three recipients that the scholarships represented much more than just financial support.
“They are an investment in your potential, your discipline, and your growth as musicians and as people.”
Scholarship recipients Aurora Daniels-Coleman, Phaedra Rye and Keira Holden, with Lodge Copernicus Master Alan Wilkinson, The Freemasons Charity’s Peter Saunders, and Lodge member and new Grand Lodge Regional Superintendent John Evered, with Ignite Academy founder and director Ray Nelson, right. Photo: Viv Posselt
