Emerging Christchurch Musicians Receive Scholarship Support from The Piano

28 April 2025

Two talented young musicians from Ōtautahi Christchurch have received an exciting new scholarship supporting music based projects at The Piano, one of New Zealand’s premiere performing arts venues.

The Piano is proud to announce Kaitlyn Rodley (22) and Myah Somers (20) as the inaugural recipients of the Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship selected from an outstanding pool of Canterbury based applicants. Director of The Piano, Marcus Norman says “We’re thrilled to launch this important new opportunity. Kaitlyn and Myah will receive a comprehensive professional development package of monetary contributions, mentoring and production support, and the free use of The Piano’s venue and equipment to produce two projects in 2025.”

Rodley will “realise her dream” of recording her debut EP, performing a live concert of her original music in The Philip Carter Family Concert Hall. “’It blows my mind to know that I have the opportunity to perform my music at The Piano” says Rodley, “It’s something I would not have been able to do without this scholarship, so I’m hugely grateful and excited.”

Somers will create a multidisciplinary music video that “embraces diversity and incorporates multiple artforms”. Somers says she is “deeply honored to be one of the 2025 Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship recipients… receiving this scholarship gives me the ability to explore my creativity and work with professionals to bring my vision to life while advancing my music career.”

The Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship is named in celebration of The Piano’s previous Director, who passionately supports young people to fly. “I am honoured to have this scholarship named after me and look forward to working with The Piano on this initiative for many years to come.”

This scholarship is generously supported by Philip Carter, who proudly supports music and the arts in Christchurch and is a principal supporter of The Piano. “I am delighted to support the
Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship at The Piano, enabling emerging young musicians from Christchurch and Canterbury to develop their potential. The Piano is well placed to mentor and support emerging artists at an important time in their creative journey – I look forward to seeing the Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship grow.”

Awarded annually, the Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship is a key pillar of The Piano’s Next Generation Initiative, supporting young people and emerging artists through gifted tickets to concerts, venue hire support, and mentoring and performance opportunities. Through this initiative in 2025, The Piano is proud to support the young people of TheatreWise, Inclusive Academy, Enchanting Productions, Burnside High School, SOLE Academy, Christchurch Competitions Society, Jolt
Dance, and individuals Hannah Sagawa (percussion), Harry Burt (Barbershop Quartet), Sho Kubota (percussion), and Otis Prescott-Mason (piano).

Applications for the 2026 scholarship will open in December.

For more information on the Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship and the Next Generation Initiative, or to
donate visit https://thepiano.nz/next-generation-fund/

Kaitlyn rodley