Max snares percussion prize

Award

For the second year running, University of Adelaide Music students have won accolades in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's prestigious Snare Drum Award.

The 2011 award was won by Max Ziliotto, with fellow Adelaide student Christopher Neale runner up. This follows the achievement of another undergraduate student, Andrew Penrose, who was the 2010 winner.

Max will receive a one-year mentorship with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a range of high-quality drum equipment.
An expert panel chose the winner from a strong field of four finalists. Each musician was asked to perform a set piece in addition to their own prepared work from a range of Australian composers.

Max was in shock at first about his win.

"It took about a week for it to sink in that I had actually won," he said.

Now he is looking forward to being mentored, which he believes will "help immensely" in improving his skills.

Beginning percussion lessons at the age of 10, Max has since played in various ensembles including orchestras, big bands and concert bands. His goal is to become a professional musician but failing that he would like to teach music.

"I'd like to be able to pass on skills to the next generation so they can lead on to bigger things," Max said.

The Head of Percussion Studies at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Amanda Grigg, described Max as "a very capable and naturally gifted musician with a passion for music".

"It has been very gratifying to watch both of the students work hard and achieve their goals," she said.

Ms Grigg also credited the strength of the percussion program at the University and its long tradition of developing talented musicians.

"We have a very strong history dating back to the 1940s. Many of Australia's professional percussionists studied at the Elder Conservatorium of Music," she said.

The achievements of these students follow in the wake of many other high-quality performers, including musician Nick Parnell. In 2004, Parnell was named the most outstanding graduate of the Elder Conservatorium after obtaining undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in percussion performance. He has made regular appearances at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and undertaken several national tours.

First established by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra percussionist Robert Cossom in 2004, the MSO Snare Drum Award is part of the Orchestra's Young Artist Development Program and is designed to encourage the pursuit of excellence in snare drum performance.

Story by Sarah Bown