The 50th annual Leslie Barklamb Scholarship was a truly memorable celebration of youth, artistry, and Australian music. With preliminary rounds held on Sunday 27 August 2023 at Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew, and the Finals Concert on Friday 1 September at Armadale Uniting Church, the 2023 Scholarship not only celebrated musical excellence but also honoured half a century of legacy left by Leslie Barklamb—pioneer flautist, educator, and founder of the Victorian Flute Guild.
🎼 Winners by Section
11 Years & Under
🥇 1st: Kristina Li
🥈 2nd: Anya Molnar
🏅 Honourable Mentions: Isabelle Cui, Tianya Liu
13 Years & Under
🥇 1st: Alex Zhou
🥈 2nd: Aiden Yan
🏅 Honourable Mentions: Ingrid Liang, Kaitlyn Ye
15 Years & Under
🥇 1st: Terrence Cheng
🥈 2nd: Alex Zhou
🏅 Honourable Mentions: Emily Miao, Melody Zhang
VCE/IB Section
🥇 1st: Aria Chen
🥈 2nd: William Ashley
Intermediate Section
🥇 1st: Evelyn Lam
🥈 2nd: Caroline Fu
🏅 Honourable Mention: Angela Tin
Senior Section / Leslie Barklamb Scholarship
🏆 Scholarship Winner: Issie Brown
✨ A Year of Firsts – New Australian Works for Every Section
To mark the 50th anniversary, the Victorian Flute Guild partnered with the Melbourne Composers’ League to commission new Australian set pieces for every section—a first in the Scholarship’s history. A blind selection process drew 37 submissions from around the country, resulting in five winning works:
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11 Years & Under: Rising Theme – Haydn Reeder
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13 Years & Under: Tango – Michael Hannan
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15 Years & Under: Sarabande – Bill Kimber
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18 Years & Under: Feathers Taking Flight – Robert McIntyre
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25 Years & Under: In the Pocket – John Shephard
These works were premiered in a special performance by past scholarship winners on 29 April 2023, helping competitors prepare for unfamiliar repertoire and giving composers the rare opportunity to hear their music brought to life multiple times.
🎤 A Standout Performance
The 2023 standout was undoubtedly Issie Brown, winner of the Senior Section. Performing John Shephard’s In the Pocket, which included vocalisations and foot-stamping, Issie delivered a dynamic and fearless interpretation of this highly idiomatic work. Her Finals Concert performance—paired with Enesco’s Cantabile and Presto—was a showcase of both technical finesse and expressive individuality. Issie’s artistry earned her the Guild’s highest award and marked her as an exciting flautist to watch.
🎹 Acknowledgements and Gratitude
The Guild extends its heartfelt thanks to:
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The pianists who collaborated with each performer, significantly enhancing the competition’s musical standard.
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The adjudicators for their careful and constructive feedback, which continues to support and guide each young performer.
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The Leslie Barklamb Scholarship Committee, whose tireless work made this anniversary event such a success.
A special farewell and deep thanks go to Annette Sloan, who retires from the committee after decades of dedicated service to the Victorian Flute Guild. Her contributions have shaped the Guild and the scholarship in countless ways, and she will be greatly missed.
🎶 Looking Ahead
With 50 years behind it, the Leslie Barklamb Scholarship continues to inspire and elevate the next generation of flautists. Many past winners have gone on to hold principal chairs in major orchestras or establish solo careers. The VFG looks forward to an even bigger celebration at the 51st Scholarship in 2024, with new set pieces to be announced early in the year.
Stay tuned—and keep practising!