Scholarships Archives

Dr. Richards is sponsoring piano students Otis Prescott Mason and William Perry to participate in master classes at the festival de la Semaine Internationale de Piano in Blonay, Switzerland in August 2022.

Support for Cultural Activities

Jack Richards is an active supporter of musical and cultural initiatives and activities in New Zealand. In 2014 he received the prestigious Award for Patronage 2014, by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, acknowledging his support for music and the arts.

Past and current support includes;

Benefactor of the National Music Centre, to be built in Wellington
Patron and sponsor of the New Zealand National Guitar Competition
Grants to the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation to support young New Zealand opera singers
Co-sponsor of the Composer in Residence Program at the New Zealand School of Music
Provision of travel scholarships for semi-finalists in the Chamber Music New Zealand School Chamber Music Competition
Sponsor of three CDs by New Zealand musicians – Tony Chen Lin, Lixin Zhang and Tony Yan Tong Chen
Sponsored book on the life of composer Jack Body
Numerous commissions for New Zealand composers, including Jack Body, Jenny McLeod, John Psathas
Commissioning of piano concertos by Gareth Farr, Lyell Cresswell, and Gao Ping which were performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Scholarships and financial support for students in the New Zealand School of Music and in the School of Applied Language Studies, Victoria University
Financing for the production of a video of Jenny Macleod’s opera “Hohepa”
Sponsorship of participation by young New Zealand musicians in the Edith Fischer Academy, Blonay Switzerland
Provision of scholarships for students enrolled in the Toihokura program in contemporary Maori Art, Gisborne
Initiation of the Ruanuku Award for excellent in contemporary Maori Art, enabling the Tairāwhiti Museum to acquire a major collection of art by local artists
Support for the Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, Gisborne
Purchase of works by local and national artists for the collection of Tairāwhiti Museum
Funding of an award in the Te Ha Art Awards competition at Tairāwhiti museum
Funding of improvements to the Tairāwhiti Museum
Funding of a new gallery at the Tairāwhiti Museum – the Jack C Richards Decorative Arts Gallery – the only gallery of its kind in any New Zealand Museum
Grant to support upgrades at Whangara Marae
The major private sponsor for renovations of the Toko Toru Tapu Church at Manutuke – one of the most important buildings of its kind in New Zealand due to the significance of its carved panels
One of the major private sponsors of renovations to the Gisborne War Memorial Theater
Grants to support the local chapter of Chamber Music New Zealand
Commissioning of art pieces by Gisborne artists for installation in the Gisborne War Memorial Theater
Significant contributor to renovations to the Dawson Field Theater, Gisborne
Patron and major sponsor of the Gisborne International Music Competition
Sponsor of a series of annual summer concerts in support of the Gisborne International Music Competition
Sponsor a series of winter concerts in the Tairāwhiti Museum, Gisborne, featuring student musicians from the New Zealand School of Music.
Commissioning of sculptures for public spaces in Gisborne

Current Scholarships and Grants 2018

Jack Richards sponsored recordings of CDs by Tony Chen Lin (piano) and Lixin Zhang. Both CDs will be published by Rattle Records, New Zealand
In April, Jack Richards is sponsoring a series of recitals by Singaporean violinist Jun Hong Loh (winner of the 2016 Gisborne International Music Competition) and New Zealand pianist Tony Chen Lin.
Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne New Zealand– sponsorship of 6 concerts featuring students from the New Zealand School of Music
Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne – grant for acquisition (Ruanuku award)
Toihoukura program in Contemporary Maori Arts, Gisborne – student scholarships
Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation – grant to support the Foundation’s support for emerging opera singers
Support for university studies: Lester Cajes Manila; John Yanson Manila; Sedigh Mohammadi UK
Professional development grant: Tony Chen Lin (pianist), New Zealand/Germany
Sponsorship of websites for Jun Hong Lo (More Than Music) and Tony Chen Lin.
Dr Richards also provides ongoing sponsorship of The Gisborne International Music Competition.

Scholarships and Grants 2017

Grant to support students at the Modern American English School in Antigua, Guatemala.
Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne New Zealand– sponsorship of 6 concerts featuring students from the New Zealand School of Music
Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne – grant for acquisition (Ruanuku award)
Toihoukura program in Contemporary Maori Arts, Gisborne – student scholarships
Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation – grant to support the Foundation’s support for emerging opera singers
RELC, Singapore. Ms Shwe Yee Htoo, Myanmar and Mr Hazwan bin Hamdan, Malaysia, scholarships to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics (blended version).
Support for musical development: piano students Leroy Ma (age 13), Sydney; and Lixin Zhang (age 15), Christchurch.
Support for university studies: Joshua Holmberg New Zealand; Lester Cajes Manila; John Yanson Manila.
Support for Ph.D studies: Christian Rudianto Indonesia.
Professional development grant: Tony Chen Lin (pianist), New Zealand/Germany and Frederick Jones (tenor), New Zealand/United Kingdom.
Sponsorship of websites for Jun Hong Lo (More Than Music) and Tony Chen Lin.
Dr Richards also provides ongoing sponsorship of The Gisborne International Music Competition.
Sponsorship of Calvin Abdiel and Leroy Ma (Sydney) to take part in the 11^th International Competition for Young Pianists “Steps to Mastery” in St. Petersburg in June 2017.
Sponsorship of Lixin Zhang (Christchurch) to take masterclasses in piano at the Semaine International de piano et musique du chambre, Blonay Switzerland, August 2017.

Ao Ran (Ph.D) & Miller Perez (MA, Applied Linguistics)

Two students who received Jack C Richards scholarships to support their graduate studies graduated from the National University of Singapore in July 26 2016.

Ao Ran (Ph.D) and Miller Perez (MA, Applied Linguistics)

Toihoukura School of Contemporary Arts

Jack Richard’s home town of Gisborne, New Zealand, has a long tradition of excellence in Maori arts.

Many of the finest examples of carved and painted meeting houses (known as Marae) in New Zealand are located in the district, and the region is home to a number of nationally renowned Maori carvers, weavers, ceramists and specialists in other fields of Maori art.

The local Polytechnic in Gisborne has a school of contemporary Maori art, called Toihoukura. It offers a range of courses in contemporary Maori art and design. Tutors in the program are nationally recognized leaders in the field of contemporary Maori art.

In order to facilitate participation by Maori students in Toihoukura programs and to encourage the wider recognition of the quality of work produced by students in Toihoukura, Professor Richards offers annual scholarships to students in the program and sponsors special commissions and awards.