Winghamite Cameron Waugh has a dream to become a concert pianist, and he is well on his way.
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Cameron is a regular competitor at the Taree and District Eisteddfod, and this year, he did extraordinarily well.
Cameron competed in both the piano and instrumental syllabuses, playing digital piano for the instrumental sections.
He scooped up three firsts and a highly commended in piano, and two firsts, one being the Senior Instrumental/Electric Championship in the instrumental syllabus, with a score of 98/100.
"That was the highest eisteddfod score I've ever received," Cameron said.
That score also propelled him on to win the Aggregate Award (highest mean score) for the instrumental syllabus.
In addition, he was awarded the Canteen Scholarship Award of $300, given to the "most deserving competitor" to help pay tuition for further studies.
To top all of that off, when Cameron finished performing a Liszt piece at the Taree and District Grand Concert on Saturday, June 5, he was told not to leave the stage, and was given a Smile Scholarship, worth $750, on the spot.
"I was honestly surprised but very pleasantly surprised!" Cameron said.
Cameron has been competing at the Taree eisteddfod since 2015. While a lot of competitors find it a daunting, and sometimes quite terrifying, experience, Cameron actually enjoys competing.
"It was a little nerve wracking the first couple of times but after a few years it got less and less,
"And while it's competitive, we're all really support of each other as well. It's a lovely community," he said.
Cameron shares his talent and love of music with the community. He is the accompanist for the Manning Valley Choral Society, and plays percussion with both the Taree and Community Concert Band and the Manning Valley Concert Band. He has also played percussion with Sinfonia, Taree's community orchestra, in the past.
However his great love is piano. He has no favourite genre, and no favourite composer, "I just love playing," he says.
"I enjoy playing basically anything and everything."
Cameron completed his AMEB eighth grade (the highest grade) piano exam last year, and is now working on his Certificate of Performance with his teacher, Don Secomb.
He is currently studying an undergraduate degree in Music at University of New England by distance education.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times since 2014. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times since 2014. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings.
