Bay Music Foundation Scholarship Competition 2015
Foundation Hosts Students on Saturday and Winner's Showcase on Sunday
February 16, 2015
By: Stephen Kent
Fifteen students gathered at St. Boniface Church Saturday morning to perform before professional judges in the 2015 Bay Music Foundation Scholarship Competition. The winners returned Sunday afternoon to perform in the annual "Winners Showcase".
Jeanne Cadena Introduces Winners
The Sunday edition of the Bay City Times on October 18, 1959, introduced the Bay Music Foundation under the headline "Memberships Sought Now". The article said the foundation was a "non-profit corporation recently organized for the purpose of raising funds and awarding them to worthy Bay County music students for annual summer scholarships to the National Music camp at Interlochen and to other music study sessions as determined by the governing board of this foundation."
For fifty six years the Bay Music Foundation has continued holding annual competitions and awarding scholarships and cash prized to area music students.
Evolving with the times, awards that were once limited to summer study now extend to music, instruments, and college tuition.
Winners have used their awards for all purposes including summer study at camps such as Herter Music's camp to CMU, Blue Lakes, and Interlochen.
Competition is divided into divisions and categories. Students compete in Piano, Instrumental, Voice and Musical Theater categories. Within the divisions the categories are intermediate (grades 6 to 8), senior (grades 9 to 12) and advanced (students who have previously won at the senior level). A first and second place is possible, but not guaranteed, in each of these divisions and categories. Honorable mentions may be awarded.
Competition is open to all Intermediate and High School students who live or study in the Bay County area.
Judges are selected by the Foundation's Competition Committee from a pool of professional musicians and teachers from the local area, neighboring towns, and Universities.
Trevor Tulin Performs for Audience
Special awards are offered and named in honor of well known local musicians. The
"Tony Rongo Honors Award" recognizes instrumental excellence. The
"Robert Story Honor Award" is given for outstanding vocalists.
In 2015 the "
Jim Hill Paino Scholarship" was established. Jim served on the Bay Music Foundation board from 1998 to 2004. He was a school music teacher, organist at First Presbyterian Church and other churches, Choir director, and accompanist to many students who competed.
The Saturday competition was held at St. Boniface Church. The following day the winners and their families and friends returned to the church for an afternoon Winner Showcase Recital followed by a reception. The public is invited to this free concert each year. It's a chance to hear great music and performances by some of the area's most talented young people.
Andrew Shindler Sings 76-Trombones from The Music Man
In the Spring the Foundation presents a "
Celebration Of The Arts" program at the State Theater. Winners from the past are invited to provide musical performances giving the audience and supporters the chance to see how they have advanced.
At the Celebration, the Foundation presents the "
Peggy Rowley Award" to a person who has made "outstanding contributions to the arts and music in the Bay County".
The Bay Music Foundation is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting music study. Besides the annual competition, the foundation holds workshops and master classes. Scholarship funds come from contributions of members and from sponsoring organizations and individuals. Bay Music Foundation is an all volunteer organization which grants the majority of its funds to scholarships.
The Bay Music Foundation Extends Special Thanks to:
St. Boniface Church and Staff
Herter Music Center
Eileen Harrigan
The Bay City Players
The State Theatre
And to its many financial supporters!
Scholarship Sponsors are
Instrumental - Herter Music Center
Musical Theater - Bay City Players
Piano - Donna and Mike Bacigalupo
For more information visit
www.BayMusicFoundation.org
Bay Music Foundation Winners
Class of 2015
Abigail Grossmeyer
1st Place Intermediate Instrumental - Flute
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Morgan Steele
2nd Place Senior Vocal
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Aaron Rajewski
Honorable Mention Senior Instrumental
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Allison Demand
2nd Place Senior Instrumental
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Andrew Shindler
Honorable Mention Advanced Musical Theater
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Erica Pattison
2nd Place Intermediate Instrumental
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Emily Buck
Honorable Mention Intermediate Vocal
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Trevor Tulin
Honorable Mention Senior Instrumental
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Erica Close
Honorable Mention Senior Vocal
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Madeline Paxson
2nd Place Senior Musical Theater
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Joseph Middleton
1st Place Senior Instrumental
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