A 22-year-old South African cellist named Ethan Lawson has been selected to receive a grant for his studies abroad. Stellenbosch University in South Africa recently announced the recipients of the prestigious Mabel Quick Overseas Bursary, with Ethan Lawson being the chosen awardee. The grant, worth ZAR 100,000 (approximately $5,000 USD), will support his education and studies overseas.

Ethan Lawson, a student of Dr. Peter Martens, has an impressive musical background. He served as the principal cellist for the Cape Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and holds the same position in the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he is pursuing a master's degree at the University of Stellenbosch.

The Mabel Quick Overseas Bursary is a biennial competition open to current students and alumni of Stellenbosch University, offering financial support for their overseas studies. The other finalists competing for this award included violinist Zoë Coetzee, clarinetist David Cyster, and tenor Jason September.

Ethan Lawson also received the Mabel Quick Instrumental Bursary, which was assessed on the previous day. The panel of judges for the 2023 award included Hendrik Hofmeyr, Aubrey Lodewyk, and Nerina von Mayer.

Reflecting on his achievement, Lawson expressed his gratitude, saying, "I didn't have any specific expectations when entering the competition. I simply enjoyed performing, and I'm very thankful that the judges appreciated my performance."