General News
27 October, 2024
Apply now: Richard Morris, Alex Rathgeber scholarships for Wimmera youth
Performing arts scholarships open for young talent this season.
Entries for the Richard Morris Memorial and the Alex Rathgeber Performing Artist Scholarships are now open for young talent in the Wimmera region. These scholarships allow emerging performers to advance their careers in the arts.
The Richard Morris Memorial Concert, on November 16, will mark 20 years since its inception, and recipients will be announced at this special event.
Scholarship applications can be made on the RM Showcase Facebook page or by emailing RMShowcase@icloud.com by Friday, November 1, 2024.
Alex Rathgeber was born in Horsham, Victoria, to a farming family. His successful career as a leading man in Australian and international live theatre and entertainment, playing principal roles in mainstage productions, dispels the myth that you must be in the city to succeed.
He believes that the opposite is true.
"Because of the great opportunity I received in Horsham, I try to pay it forward by helping others wherever I can," he said, referring to his early performances in Horsham and the scholarship he now funds in his name.
The Alex Rathgeber scholarship is designed to encourage and foster the talent development of promising young performing artists and musicians from around the Horsham and Wimmera region.
The recipient receives a $1000 prize to support and encourage their development as a performing artist.
The AR award was introduced a few years ago and is designed to complement the Richard Morris Memorial Scholarship, which has been awarded annually since 2005.
"Last year's winner of the AR Scholarship, Sienna Walsgott, has been going from strength to strength this year," he said.
"Whilst I've been on tour all around the country with The Mousetrap, I've been helping her with periodic coaching sessions on songs she's been working on with her singing teacher, Lisa Thomas, and it's been brilliant to see Sienna grow and evolve as a performer.
"Without the formative years of theatre with the Horsham Arts Council, I would not have fallen in love with theatre," Rathgeber said.
Mr Rathgeber's career spans two decades of live entertainment with principal roles in main stage productions across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the West End in London.
He has just completed two successful seasons of Agatha Christies, The Mousetrap.
"Every performance must be my best because I want people in the audience to have that connection with the show, especially if it's their first live performance.
"I want them to leave with the same feeling I had when I first experienced live theatre, he said.
"Horsham is always home to me because of the support I received in Horsham and how warmly I am welcomed whenever I return."
The Richard Morris Memorial Concert 2024 will be held on Saturday, November 16, in the Horsham Town Hall Theatre. It will celebrate local talent and ensure the ongoing continuation of the RM Scholarships.
The Richard Morris Memorial Scholarship offers young people up to $3,000 in scholarships to support and encourage their development in the performing arts.
Applications can be lodged at:https://drive.google.com/.../1tkoKUEV9.../view...
Link to tickets: https://www.horshamtownhall.com.au/hthevent/rm-showcase-2024/