Samuel was formally congratulated for his achievements last month when he was awarded the inaugural Barry Rose Memorial Music Scholarship on Australia Day.

The Scone High School year 11 student was presented the scholarship by Mr Rose’s wife Jan as part of the Scone Australia Day ceremony.

Supported by the Upper Hunter Shire Council in cooperation with the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, the scholarship was named in honour of former Upper Hunter Shire Council mayor Barry Rose who was a very keen musician.

Samuel has been playing the tenor saxophone for the past seven years under music teacher Janelle French.

He is a student at the conservatorium and last year passed his seventh grade Australian Music Examination Board exams with A honours, of which he was very happy with.

The enthusiastic musician studies by correspondence through Muswellbrook High School as Scone High School doesn’t have a music class in his grade this year.

Socially he plays in the Scone Town Band and would like to start doing gigs and teaching music part time in the future.

Samuel also won the Scone Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society scholarship last year and has gained regular scholarships from the conservatorium.

Samuel said everyone in the conservatorium had the opportunity to audition for the scholarship so he felt lucky to have been chosen.

“I am very grateful to be the inaugural winner and it’s very special,” he said.

Mrs Rose said Barry would have been delighted to have an award named in his honour connected to music as it was something that was very special to him.

“I thank the conservatorium and the council for starting this award and I hope it continues into the future.”