(Right)Dandenong’s Chehara de Silva with her first-prize winning stamp design from the Dandenong Festival of Music and Art for Youth.
By Shaun Inguanzo
THE DANDENONG Festival of Music and Art for Youth has now finished with young people across Greater Dandenong stamping their mark on the talent stage.
Among the winners were 22-year-old Lauren Oldham, who scooped the aria category with a stunning vocal performance, and 11-year-old Chehara de Silva, whose proud dad, Susantha, contacted Star to promote his daughter’s success in designing a stamp and envelope.
Chehara, who lives in Dandenong, claimed first prize for the design of an Australian-themed stamp and second prize for the design of an Australian-themed envelope.
“She is very happy, very proud,” Mr de Silva said.
Chehara designed the winning entries at her palette and paintbrush lessons which she takes part in outside of school hours.
“She has always been into art,” Mr de Silva said.
Meanwhile, Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown said Ms Oldham’s performance in the aria category was nothing short of spectacular.
“To give you an indication of the strength of her performance, the two other runners-up were members of the Victorian Opera,” he said.
Cr Brown said the Drum Theatre setting did the competition justice.
“It was first class,” he said.
He said Ms Oldham picked up more than $3000 for her victory, which concluded the two-week festival on 11 May.
