Richard Pollett Prize

About this scholarship

Richard Pollett’s diverse passions were driven by a deep understanding "of the essence of things: colour in music, depth in literature, poetry and visual art, texture in food, the wind in his hair, the sea, silence, reflection". He was dedicated to life itself, with music just one avenue for him to explore the world around him in all its beauty, subtlety, grandeur, and complexity. Though his calling drew him numerous prizes and awards his compassion, generosity, and modesty shone through more prominently than any performance ever could. In 2011, at the age of 25, he was engaged by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to play as a soloist. A month before the concert he was killed in a road crash while cycling. The Richard Pollett Prize exists to inspire others by his memory, to connect with the deep emotional and intellectual experience of his world. The innumerable letters from young musicians received after his untimely passing are only a narrow window into the powerful effect he had on his community, be it Melbourne, Zurich, Tel Aviv, or here in Brisbane. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the music he performed, and the scholars who carry on his craft. The prize has been established in his memory and is maintained by an annual donation from his parents, Professors Philip and Patricia Pollett. More information about Richard is available at his memorial website .

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