From the Hoods to the Navy - Elder student wins big

Picture: AAP/ROY VANDERVEGT

Elder Conservatorium of Music student Maksym Grynchuk's trumpet playing has netted him two major prizes and enough prize money to set him on the way to making an album.

Maksym isn't blowing his own trumpet - but he's one talented young musician.

Cominfrom a musical family, Grynchuk played piano for eight years as a child before picking up the trumpet in high school.

Since then, the 23-year-old from Hillcrest, has gone on to complete his Bachelor of Music with honours at Adel­aide University and per­formed around the country with the Hilltop Hoods, SA 's Royal Australian Navy Band and the Mike Stewart Big Band.

"When I first started playing (trumpet) in  high  school, I loved the camaraderie of play­ing in bands with other musiciansGrynchuk says.

"It's just stayed fun for me.

I've been able to play with some of my best friends and have some pre tty amazing ex­periences.

His talent has now been for­mally recognised in the Helmann Academy's annual jazz prize-giving.

Grynchuk won two major prizes - the Keith & Susie Langley Memorial Award for being the best overall honours graduate, along with the Mike Stewart Memorial Award.

The $17,500 of prize money will help him to achieve his dream of releasing an album.

Such success, he believes, "opens a lot of doors for any musician".

"It guides you that you' re on the right tracks and just makes me want to keep working hard and keep going," he says.

Picture: AAP/ROY VANDERVEGT

Source: The Messenger, North-NorthEastern

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