Pictured above L-R: Fine Music Radio's Station manager and Bursary Trust Awards 2016 Contestants. From Left to Right: Mark Jennings (Station Manager), Jazz Contestant - Phathiswa Magangane (Vocals), Jazz Contestant - Elizabeth Gaylord (Keyboard), Jazz Winner - Evan Froud (Alto Sax), Classical Contestant - Siphokazi Molteno (Mezzo Soprano), Classical Contestnat - Colette Brand (Celllo) and Classical Winner - Yohan Chun (Piano)

Yohan Chun and Evan Froud are proud winners of the 2016 Fine Music Radio Awards held recently. The annual competition rewards students in the categories Jazz and Classical music. This year, five of the six finalists were South African College of Music students.

The Fine Music Radio Awards Trust is funded by the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation for the purpose of providing scholarships, bursaries or awards to students studying for a performance diploma or degree in music. There is a R30 000 bursary for each category; R20 000 is awarded to the top candidates and R5 000 to each of the other two finalists to further their studies.

Final year Bachelor of Music student Yohan Chun (Western Classical music specialisation) received the prize in the Classical category and the overall competition winner in the Jazz category was Evan Froud (Jazz specialisation), who will also complete his final year of study in 2016. Funding willing, Chun plans to enroll for an Honours degree and would hopes to find a career that combines travel with musical performance.

Froud, who has received a number of prizes for music says that he has put a great deal of work into his studies over the last two years and so this latest accolade means a great deal to him. ”It is a fantastic feeling when you realize that you are on the right track and that the hours of practice on a daily basis are bringing you success. When I decided to enter the competition my main goal was to prepare a performance that would be enjoyable for all and one which would truly be a memorable musical experience for myself and, the musicians that played with me. Obviously I am extremely overwhelmed and grateful for the prize money which is a generous gift from Fine Music Radio and I must thank FMR once again for allowing us all the opportunity to take part in this competition” says Froud.