WOLFVILLE, NS - Four of Lorri Dunn’s piano students in Kings County have been awarded provincial award medallions.

For Grade 1, Evan Moser of Wolfville was the winner. Grade 2 was a tie between Alec Corbett of Coldbrook and Liam Edelstein, also of Wolfville. The Grade 3 award medallions went to Faith Benjamin from South Alton.

According to Dunn, she had 12 students try provincial exams and all received distinction or high distinction (marks in the 80s or 90s).

Dunn has operated her school of music for three years locally, but she has been teaching in the Clare region for 25 years.

Dunn’s pupils were among young musicians from across the Maritimes who took part June 16 in the annual Celebration of Talent Concert presented by the Mount Allison Local Centre Examinations in Music.

The concert featured performances by award medallions winners in this year’s examination session. In late May and early June, examinations in piano and voice were administered in 10 centres throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Award medallions were awarded to students who received the highest provincial mark for each instrument in each of the musical grades 1 through 10, with a minimum mark of 85 per cent.

Established in 1911 as a service to piano teachers and their students, the Mount Allison Local Centre Examination system has continued to be a vital part of the outreach of the Department of Music.

Dr. Stephen Runge, who directs the exams, said, “it is a pleasure to be able to celebrate the talents of young Maritime musicians, their teachers, and their families. I am pleased that the long and distinguished tradition of Local Centre Examinations continues to play such an important role in the musical education of today's youth.”

Dunn says she has more than 40 students in Kings County and about 20 in Clare.