Attendees of the 20th RM Showcase at Horsham Town Hall on Saturday night were treated to a program full of singing, dancing, acting and other performances, with many describing it as the best showcase yet.

The RM Showcase was created to honour former Horsham and Natimuk community member Richard Morris, a keen supporter of the arts who died in 2004.

The showcase offers the region’s performers a chance to display their talents each year, with all money raised from ticket sales going towards performing scholarships – the RM Memorial Scholarship and Alex Rathgeber Performing Arts Scholarship.

Nearly 20 acts, both solo and ensemble, entertained onlookers, with performances including a monologue, vocal and instrumental musical performances, and excerpts from this year’s Horsham Arts Council productions.

RM Showcase organiser Jan Morris said the multi-decade effect of the showcase and its scholarships was evident during the performances.

“The opening performance was by a mother and son, where the mother sang in the first concert 20 years ago. They sang together and her son was brilliant,” she said.

“There are 20 years of scholarships that have gone out, and looking at the names they are all still connected to the region in one way or another.

“Brian Harrison is an example – he’s here with a band in Horsham and he was one of the early winners.

“Maddie Ostapiw is another one. Maddie’s teaching singing now to a lot of kids, and actually taught the girl who won this year’s Alex Rathgeber award.

“It’s sort of a bit of history returning, which is beautiful.”

This year’s scholarship recipients were Sienna Walsgott for the RM Memorial Scholarship and Prue Heard for the Alex Rathgeber Performing Arts Scholarship.

RM Memorial encouragement awards went to Loucas Vettos, Chloe Findlay and William Meyer.

Ms Morris said the showcase was still going strong after 20 years and was an excellent way to honour the memory of her late husband.

“It’s about passion. We wanted people to explore their passion – where they want to go and how they want to get there,” she said.

“We started it because Richard wouldn’t be sitting around moping – he’d say ‘let’s have a concert’ or ‘let’s sing’. That’s what happened.”

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