Gosford High School Year 12 trombonist Anya Sandeman has been named the 2025 Pearl Beach Senior Scholarship winner, taking out the top prize at the prestigious annual event. Flautist Emma Deed was awarded second place, with violinist Minjy Lee securing third.
Anya, Emma, and Minjy were among eight talented finalists selected to compete in this year’s Pearl Beach Scholarship Concert, which marked its 20th anniversary. The senior finalists included Emma Deed (flute), Anya Sandeman (trombone), Minjy Lee (violin), Mitchell Frith (French horn), Amaya Farri (voice), and Grace Moura Atkins (piano). Violinist Claire Berecry-Brown was also selected as a finalist but was unable to perform on the day due to injury.
2025 Pearl Beach Scholarship Finalists
Vocalist Amaya Farri received the Rising Star Award, sponsored by Ashley Fraser, while the People’s Choice Award – sponsored by Russell Grove in memory of Frances Grove – was jointly awarded to Minjy Lee and Emma Deed.
The annual scholarship concert, jointly sponsored by the Pearl Beach Progress Association and the Irvine Family since its inception in May 2005, is a highlight of the Central Coast musical calendar. This year’s event, held on Saturday 24 May at Pearl Beach Memorial Hall, showcased some of the Central Coast Conservatorium’s most promising students and incorporated the popular Pearl Beach Junior Showcase, which featured 14 selected junior students.
Central Coast Conservatorium of Music Artistic Director Patrick Brennan congratulated all Senior finalists and Junior musicians, and paid tribute to the “generous and unwavering support” of the Pearl Beach Progress Association, the Pearl Beach Community, the Irvine Family, and other donors who provided the prize money.
“Thanks to all for the huge effort and amazing support that enabled both events to run smoothly and showcase the massive talent of musically engaged kids on the coast. We are so grateful for their time, effort, and energy, which we know is significant and is also a catalyst and contributor for generating such outcomes,” Brennan said.
“This support has had a massive impact on inspiring our young people to be their best for many years. The financial support, that has now tripled for this year, is certainly significant in helping to facilitate their longer-term musical journey,” he added.
“I can confidently say on behalf of the Central Coast Conservatorium team that we are exceedingly proud of what our students are achieving. And wonderfully, the 20th Anniversary gave our students and their families insight into what hard work, dedication, passion and of course support can achieve in enabling young people to flourish both here on the Coast as well as in a much bigger world.”
2025 Pearl Beach Junior Showcase performers.
The Junior Showcase Concert, introduced in 2013, celebrates solo instrumental and vocal performances by Central Coast Conservatorium junior students. This year’s concert also featured performances by previous Pearl Beach Scholarship winners Kaito Deed, Elana Sydenham, and Alyse Faith.
2025 Pearl Beach Senior Scholarship and Irvine Piano Scholarship Recipients
- $2000 Pearl Beach Scholarship 1st Place: Anya Sandeman, Trombone (sponsored by the Fussell Family Foundation)
- $1000 Pearl Beach Scholarship 2nd Place: Emma Deed, Flute (sponsored by Julian Knights Family)
- $750 Pearl Beach Scholarship 3rd Place: Minjy Lee, Violin (sponsored by Justice David Davies)
- $1000 People’s Choice Award: Shared by Minjy Lee and Emma Deed (sponsored by Russell Grove in memory of Frances Grove)
- $500 Rising Star Award: Amaya Farri, Voice (sponsored by Ashley Fraser)
- Irvine Piano Scholarship First Place: Kaytlin Copaceanu
- Irvine Piano Scholarship Second Place: Grace Moura Atkins
The 20th anniversary of the Pearl Beach Scholarship Concert was a resounding success, celebrating both the achievements of young musicians and the community support that continues to inspire the next generation of talent on the Central Coast.
