Objects of Substance - The Wight Memorial Medal for Music

Tokiwa Onoda (2016) with her four Wight Memorial Medals

The Wight Memorial Medal has been awarded 128 times and a number of students have received the award more than once. Two-time recipients include: Inge Budtz-Olsen (1966) 1964/65; Jennifer Battersby (1981) 1980/81; Elizabeth Ahern (1997) 1993/94; Miranda Carson (1999) 1997/98; Grace Sha (2004) 2003/04; and Cara Tran (2010) 2007/10. I would go as far to say that winning the Wight Memorial Medal in Year 9 was a significant turning point in my musical career. It inspired me to keep striving and I won the Wight Memorial Medal again in my final year of school. Having come full circle, I am now teaching piano and accompanying at BGGS, and I hope to inspire the next generation of pianists at the same place that instilled in me my love of music. – Cara Tran (2010)

Three students have won the award four times:

1999 to 2002

Helen Godfrey (2002)

2012/13/15/16

Tokiwa Onoda (2016)

2017 to 2020

Sophie Shan (11E)

Helen Godfrey (2002), Manager of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, comments:

Solo piano as a very individualistic pursuit can be quite isolating, but being able to perform for others and be awarded the Wight Memorial Medal brought me much happiness and a real sense of achievement. Perhaps this is the same feeling playing piano brought for the Wight sisters, and that those who chose to honour them with this medal hoped its awarding would bring to its winners.

Dr Gary Holley Voice and Choral Specialist