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A strong round of applicants made the decision about this year’s Brian Boak Bursary a tough one for Empire Theatre Trustees. In light of the number of talented applicants they decided to award two busaries for $10,000 each, both in the Developing Performer category.
Dane Lam was awarded a Brian Boak Bursary for conducting. Originally from Brisbane, Dane has been studying at Julliard in New York and plans to go to Manchester in England to undertake a conducting internship.
The other Brian Boak Bursary winner is Emily Goddard, an actor from Victoria. She will go to France in October to complete her training at L’Ecole Phillippe Gaulier in Paris.
Chair of the Empire Theatres Foundation, Don Stevens, said the Trustees were pleased to receive so many high calibre applicants from all over Australia.
“It’s important for the Empire Theatre to build relationships with emerging talent because that’s the future of the industry in Australia,” he said. “We’re also excited that our Brian Boak Bursary winners are developing their skills at some of the world’s most respected institutions. They’ll bring back those skills and pass them on here.” Brian Boak Bursaries are made possible by the generosity of local thespian Brian Boak. Mr Boak loved acting and throughout his life was involved in many Toowoomba productions. He also enjoyed mentoring younger performers in the community. Mr Boak left a substantial bequest to the Empire Theatre for the purpose of assisting emerging Australian performers.
The 2010 round of the Brian Boak Bursary will have just one category the highly coveted $25,000 Outstanding Performer Bursary.
Dane Lam
Born in Brisbane, Dane Lam began taking piano lessons at the age of six. He studied piano and conducting at the University of Queensland, Australia and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2006. Hailed as one of the “most talented young conductors Australia has produced” [Limelight Magazine], Queensland native Dane Lam was accepted in 2007 into New York’s prestigious Juilliard School aged only 22.
Lam was first introduced to conducting through Symphony Australia who noted his talent and nurtured his development. He has, so far, impressed audiences and orchestras alike with his commitment to interpretation of his individual musical voice. Recently appointed to the position of Luverhulme Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester after a competitive audition process, Lam will assume the post in September 2009 with the help of the Brian Boak Developing Performer Bursary. Lam will return to his home town of Brisbane in July to lead the world premiere season of Jonathan Henderson’s opera “Dirty Apple” with Opera Queensland as part of the Queensland Music Festival.
First appearing with the Sydney Symphony in the Sydney Opera House at age 18, Dane Lam has since conducted the symphony orchestras of Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania, The Queensland Orchestra, the Sofia Festival Orchestra and the Juilliard Orchestra among others.
Emily Goddard
Emily is a young Victorian actor and performer who began her involvement in the performing arts at a young age.She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts at Monash University and during her studies was accepted to train with renowned acting teacher Philippe Gaulier at his international theatre school in Paris, where she began her first year in 2005/06.Upon return, Emily formed an artistic collaboration with emerging playwright Bryan Davidson Blue and in 2007 they were awarded the Malthouse Theatre 3D Festival development award for Davidson Blue’s “Matilda’s Waltz”, which will premiere at LaMama Theatre in August 2009. Emily also developed and performed in Davidson Blue’s “Szentpaly” (2006 Wal Cherry Play of the Year finalist) for the Brisbane Festival: Under the Radar in 2008.
The generous support of the Empire Theatres 2009 Brian Boak Developing Performer Bursary will enable Emily to undertake her second year training at L’Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Clown, Bouffon and character creation, and to further her collaboration with Ultimo Comboio Teatro.
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