$5000 arts award to music graduate

Music

South Australia's top award for an arts graduate has been won by a talented flute player from the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music.

Anouvong Liensavanh, who graduated last year with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) specialising in classical flute, has won the $5000 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Award.

The 21-year-old musician is considered to be among the most exciting performers to emerge from the Elder Conservatorium in recent years, and has shown great commitment and initiative in his studies and early career. He was presented with the $5000 award at the Helpmann Academy's Maestros & Apprentices fundraising dinner last month.

In addition to his experience as a soloist, Anouvong has performed with numerous orchestras over the past four years, including the Elder Conservatorium Wind and Chamber Orchestras, the Norwood Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He also played with Co-Opera's regional tour of La Traviata as Principal Flute.

Anouvong recently ranked an impressive 2nd in the flute auditions at Yale University in Connecticut, USA. While this Ivy League college only admits one flute player each year, Anouvong was thrilled at the result, and has since been accepted into the Masters course at the Royal College of Music in London, England.

Through its sponsorship of the State's leading award for an arts graduate, the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank aims to provide meaningful support for talented South Australians pursuing a career in the arts.

"Anouvong is a talented musician who is already making a significant impact internationally. I am sure we are all witnessing the beginning of a major international career, starting right here in Adelaide," said Jamie McPhee, Chief Executive, Partner Advised Bank, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.

"We take great pride in enhancing the lives of South Australians by supporting artistic, cultural and business activities which we hope will help create a brighter future for South Australians, particularly our young people."

The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank winner was chosen from a select field of outstanding 2008 graduates from each of South Australia's major arts institutions: Adelaide Centre for the Arts (TafeSA), Adelaide Central School of Art, Elder Conservatorium of Music (University of Adelaide), Flinders Screen Production and Drama Centre (Flinders University), South Australian School of Art (UniSA) and Vizarts, O'Halloran Hill (TafeSA).

Proceeds from the Maestros & Apprentices black-tie dinner - this year themed Starry, Starry Night - provide significant benefits to students and recent graduates from the Helpmann Academy's partner schools, by assisting with funding for projects, facilitating visiting artists, student exchanges and creating performance and exhibition opportunities both in Australia and abroad. The event has grown enormously in popularity since it began in 1996, and is a showcase of the very best of South Australia's food, wine and emerging creative talent.