Suncoast Music Scholarships awarded $8,000 to seven talented young musicians from Sarasota and Manatee counties, to be used for music education expenses. The 2021 competition required the 25 applicants to submit digital recordings of their audition performances. The scholarship program is organized and managed by a partnership between Sarasota Music Club and Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota.
2021 Scholarship Winners
The 10th grade students selected for 2021 Suncoast Music Scholarship awards are: 1st place – Vivian Phung, piano, St. Stephens Episcopal School, $500; and 2nd place – Danae Tran, violin, Manatee School for the Arts, $250. The 11th grade competition winners are: 1st place – Moriah Emrich, flute, Riverview High School, $750; and 2nd place – Christopher Wheaton, violin, North Port High School, $500.
This year’s Suncoast Music Scholarship 12th grade winners are: 1st place – Colin Leonard, tenor sax, Booker High School, $3,000; 2nd place – Nicholas Benson, guitar, Riverview High School, $2,000; and 3rd place – Leela Sundaram, voice, Booker High School, $1,000.
We are so happy to be able to offer these scholarships to help support young musicians at a time of financial strain for so many.Lee Dougherty Ross, Co-Chair
Distinguished judges for this year’s competition were: Dr. Robyn Bell, Joy McIntyre and Tom Purviance. Auditions were conducted on April 17, observing safe social distancing. This year’s applicants came from 11 area public and private schools as well as home schools.
Suncoast Music Scholarship committee is co-chaired by Lee Dougherty Ross, Director of Competitions and Outreach for Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, and Susan Hicks, Sarasota Music Club Communications Director.
