First Ever Chris Edmund Scholarship Winner Announced
Sydney, Oct 16, 2015 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Director and teacher Chris Edmund announced the winner of the Chris Edmund Scholarship last night to third-year Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) acting student, Shalom Brune-Franklin. Presented at WAAPA, the $17,000 prize was provided through a collaboration with MasterCard Inc (
NYSE:MA) and the Jackman Furness Foundation for Performing Arts (JFFPA).
The MasterCard Scholarship was named in honour of Edmund; a director, teacher, writer and painter. Edmund was Head of Directing, then Head of the Acting Department at WAAPA for 30 years and trained the likes of Hugh Jackman, Frances O'Connor and Jai Courtney.
In late 2014, MasterCard filmed Jackman surprising his former teacher in New York with the announcement of this AUD$17,000 Scholarship in his honour.
JFFPA Founding Patron and Australian Icon, Jack Thompson, expressed: "This scholarship provides an exciting opportunity to a WAAPA graduate who has shown exceptional aptitude for further mentoring and guidance in their chosen career path; at a time critical to their further development. It is apt that the scholarship should celebrate Chris Edmund, who has been inspirational and instrumental to the success of so many of WAAPA's finest graduates of the Acting Department."
The winner Shalom Brune-Franklin is a graduating WAAPA acting student who has displayed artistic excellence. Shalom was selected by an expert panel, made up of Edmund, WAAPA Alumni Lawrie Cullen-Tait and Stuart Halusz, Jack Thompson and the WAAPA Director Professor Julie Warn. The Chris Edmund Scholarship will support Shalom by 'kick-starting' her acting career, and MasterCard and JFFPA are looking forward to following Shalom's journey.
Sam Ahmed, Group Head, Marketing, Asia Pacific, MasterCard, said: "We are delighted to be supporting this scholarship, which provides a talented graduate with vital assistance, as they embark on their acting career. We hope that with this support, they will soon be providing priceless experiences to audiences across Australia, just as Chris' former students continue to bring joy and delight to millions all over the world."
About JFFPA:
The Jackman Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts (JFFPA), www.JFFPA.com, is a national foundation established by actors Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness to support the performing arts in Australia. The Foundation was launched on 17 May 2014 at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in Perth, where Hugh's performance journey began. Hugh Jackman graduated from WAAPA in 1994 and since then, in a stellar career, has been entertaining audiences across the world.
The Foundation's goal is to enable performing arts students to thrive in their art and lives, by supporting the development of their skills, knowledge, courage and awareness, through improving the quality of their educational experience.
The mission of the Foundation is to support the performing arts in Australia and the institutions that train Australia's wealth of talent. JFFPA is particularly interested in supporting training which recognises, celebrates, develops and nurtures the unique skills and talents of Indigenous performance students.
About MasterCard Inc
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.
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