Myron Kantor Bequest Scholarship: Empowering aspiring artists in classical music

As a child, Somerset Peede first encountered the viola when she heard an older student performing at school.   

“I fell in love with the instrument’s rich, soulful sound,” she recalls. That was the moment her lifelong passion for the viola began. 

Through high school and her undergraduate studies, Somerset’s love for music making continued to grow and she contemplated pursuing either music performance or musicology.

"Once I made the decision to focus on the performance side of things, I started looking into related courses offered at the postgraduate level,” she explains.  

Today, Somerset is pursuing her Master of Music Studies (Performance) in Viola at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the guidance of Associate Professor Roger Benedict. This degree is designed to help musicians refine their technical mastery and deepen their understanding of repertoire and performance.

Pursuing postgraduate studies in Sydney meant relocating across the world.  

“When I received my Con acceptance letter last year, I was absolutely ecstatic,” Somerset shares. “However, I knew it was going to take a lot of planning, and funds, to make the 15,000 km move to Australia from my hometown in the United States."  

Somerset was able to establish her new chapter Down Under with the support of the Myron Kantor Bequest Scholarship. Created in 2014 through a generous donation from Myron Kantor, the scholarship is designed to support students studying classical music at the Con. 

For Somerset, the scholarship has been instrumental in helping her transition to life in Sydney and ensuring that her focus remains on excelling in her studies and performance projects.  

“I am very grateful to be the recipient of the Myron Kantor Bequest Scholarship because it has alleviated financial pressures related to tuition and living costs, which has in turn enabled me to focus on my studies and develop meaningful connections in the professional sphere.”  

Outside her studies, Somerset has immersed herself in projects that provide real-world industry experience. A highlight has been working at Trackdown Studios, where she’s had the chance to record soundtracks for audiovisual projects like TV shows, video games, and films.

“Because you need to be as accurate as possible from the first take, I’ve learned a great deal about precision playing—and had lots of fun along the way,” she shares.  

Somerset is also performing in the premiere of Mother, a series of four new chamber operas composed by her peers as part of the Con’s Words, Text, Voices, Music program. Working alongside the composers has been a rewarding experience.

“It has been wonderful to meet the composers and learn about their creative visions and processes," she reflects. 

As Somerset looks ahead to the future, she’s excited to explore a range of opportunities in the music industry. Alongside teaching viola and violin, she is also laying the foundation for a vibrant performance career.

“Performance-wise, I tend to gravitate towards work that is done in a studio or orchestral pit, and will definitely pursue opportunities related to soundtrack recording and music for opera, ballet, and musicals." 

For young musicians considering postgraduate study, Somerset offers this advice:

“While students gain a strong foundation in music principles during their undergraduate studies, there’s always more to learn,” she says. “Postgraduate study is a fantastic way to explore specific interests more deeply.”

Through the generosity of our donors, Sydney Conservatorium of Music offers over $2 million in merit and equity scholarships annually.

Explore our music scholarships and begin your journey at the Con.