In its seventh annual competition, Suncoast Music Scholarships awarded $11,000 to eight talented young musicians from Sarasota and Manatee counties to be used for music education expenses. The scholarship program, funded and managed through a partnership between Sarasota Music Club and Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, has awarded over $112,000 to young music students.
Winners will perform on May 14 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, in a concert that is offered free of charge and is open to the public.
The 10th grade students selected for Suncoast Music Scholarship awards are: Caleb Horner, 1st place, $600; and Margaret Toth, 2nd place, $400. The 11th grade students selected to receive scholarship awards are: Vivian Phung, 1st place, $1,000; and Hoang Pham, 2nd place, $500. Toth auditioned on violin and the other three winners are piano students.
The 12th grade students selected to receive scholarships are: 1st place, $3,000 – Haley Sprague, double bass; 2nd place, $2,500 – Kristian Mendoza, piano; and 3rd place – Christopher Wheaton, violin. A Special Judges Award of $1,000 was given to Moriah Emrich, flute.
The 25 students who submitted scholarship applications came from 13 area schools. Auditions were held on April 23 at the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota.
Distinguished judges for this year’s competition were: 12th grade – Gail Berenson, Joy McIntyre and Gayle Williams; and 10th and 11th grade – Linda Cerone and Tom Purviance.
Suncoast Music Scholarship program is co-chaired by Susan Hicks and Lee Dougherty Ross.
