Double scholarship success for twin cellists

Thursday, 8 May 2003

Identical twins Pei-Sian and Pei-Jee Ng, 18, have the music world at their feet after being awarded major scholarships to further their study in the UK.

The cellists, who are studying for their Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree at the University of Adelaide's Elder School of Music, have each been awarded two-year scholarships valued at a combined total of more than $120,000 for postgraduate study at the acclaimed Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. They will leave to take up the scholarships in September this year.

Pei-Sian will receive the Elder School of Music's most prestigious scholarship, the Elder Overseas Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 1883 by an endowment from Sir Thomas Elder, and has been held by such notable Adelaide musicians as Dr Miriam Hyde and most recently the baritone Grant Doyle. In addition, Pei-Sian has received another award linked to the Elder Overseas Scholarship, from the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship SA.

Pei-Jee has been awarded one of the world's most coveted and valuable music awards, an International Postgraduate Scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Pei-Sian and Pei-Jee are regarded as exceptionally talented and accomplished musicians, who, under the guidance of Janis Laurs, have each won numerous State and national awards and prizes. Pei-Jee was the winner of the Symphony Australia Young Performers' Awards in 2001, while this year Pei-Sian has performed with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. At 8pm on Saturday night (May 10) at Elder Hall he will perform the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 as part of the Elder School of Music's Evening Concert Series.

Elder Professor of Music and Dean of the Elder School of Music Professor Charles Bodman Rae says the scholarships will further prepare Pei-Sian and Pee-Jee for their careers as international-class musicians.

"This is an absolutely fantastic achievement, not least of all for Pei-Jee and Pei-Sian, but also their family, the Elder School of Music and the South Australian music community in general," Professor Bodman Rae says. "I am delighted that the Ng twins will be able to study together at the Royal Northern. They are at the stage of their careers where they need to travel and study overseas to gain the experience and learning necessary to become world-class musicians.

"Such achievements also show that Adelaide can produce performers who are capable of obtaining careers on the world stage. I wish Pei-Jee and Pei-Sian all the best for their future endeavours."

Contact Details