n November 5th, 2001 I had visitors at my home that consisted of the Piche family, Conservatory Canada Principal Neil Whyte, the Conservatory board chairman Jack Speake and Conservatory teacher Dianne Edwards. The occasion was set up for me to present the award of the first Speake Medal of Excellence to this year's winner in the piano category. His name is Nathan Piche, and he is a student in Grade 11 high school. I felt very pleased to be able to make this presentation to him because I found him to be a very warm, courteous and obviously talented young man.

The Speake Medal will be awarded annually to the candidates receiving the highest mark in Canada in subject areas such as piano, voice, brass, strings, woodwind and guitar for Grades 5 – 10 of the Conservatory program.

Earlier last year I received a communication from the Conservatory asking my permission to allow them to strike a medal that would be presented to the students that reached the above category. They informed me that they wanted to engrave my likeness on the medal, and asked if I would consider and sanction the likeness that they intended to use. I did this at the time and, due to touring and other commitments, the incident momentarily passed out of my memory. I gave my consent, and it was not until the aforementioned visit that I gained the opportunity of seeing the medal. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed and more than pleased with the finished result that they were awarding to Nathan. There is a photograph of the medal included in this segment of the Journal, and I hope that my pride and pleasure in its outcome is shared by any readers of this column. It is another honor within my musical career that will remain with me always. Good luck to Nathan and all of the forthcoming winners.

©2002 Oscar Peterson