Music has always been a part of Ella's life.
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She has played the piano since she was in Year 2 and her talent, along with fellow Goulburn High School student Angus', was recently recognised by the Hume Conservatorium.
Ella, who is a pianist, was one of several scholarship recipients for 2021.
"My mum plays the piano so it was just I wanted to play the piano because she played the piano," she said.
"I really like music. It's so emotional and the way you can express things without using words is really cool and I like that about playing the piano."
No stranger to the Hume Conservatorium, Ella took flute lessons there and has also been part of the Hume orchestra, their concert band and group ensemble.
Ella loves musical theatre and has been involved in several plays and musicals through the Lieder Theatre Company.
"Last year we did a musical review which was really fun and my mum ran it. We picked the songs out and had the whole storyline worked out which was really fun."
This year was the first time Ella had applied for a scholarship.
"I like a new experience and I've done some things at the Conservatorium before."
She said being a scholarship holder was a "privilege" and hoped to grow as a musician during her time with the Hume Conservatorium.
"I've done sixth grade, so if I can go up to eighth grade and do my AMus, that would be really good.
"To go to university for music, that would be amazing."
Angus also started playing the piano in primary school and 2020 was the first time he had auditioned as well.
He received an Encouragement Award for piano.
After trying the guitar, Angus turned his hand to the piano and that's where he found his passion.
"It's where I really found myself. I can express myself, [there's] no boundaries, there's no limitations," he said.
"I like to experiment with a lot of stuff, I'm writing my own song right now."
Angus played Be Alright by Dean Lewis at the Hume Conservatorium auditions along with his own composition, which he said "is still a work in progress".
He said he was pleased to receive the encouragement award and would continue to experiment and work on new compositions.
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