2009 Bay Music Foundation Scholarship Award Winners

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Bay Music Foundation Awards Scholarships

February 15, 2009       2 Comments
By: Stephen Kent

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On Valentine Day 2009, twenty of the area's aspiring young musicians gathered at Bay City's St. Boniface Church for the annual The Bay Music Foundation competition, an event that's been a tradition for over 55 years.

Competition is open to all Intermediate and High School students who reside and/or study in the Bay County area. Students compete in three divisions. Students in grades 6 to 8 are classified at the intermediate level. Grade 9 to 12 students compete in the Senior division. Winners in the Senior division can return the next year to compete at an "Advanced" level.

There are four competition categories in each division:
    Piano
    Instrumental
    Voice
    Musical Theater

Judges are selected from a pool of professional musicians, music teachers and college professors. A first and second place scholarship is given in each division and category. Judges may also award honorable mentions.

Judges have the option to also award "The Tony Rongo Honors Award" to an outstanding student. Named for long time Bay City musician and music teacher Tony Rongo, who passed away two years ago, this award is only given to the best.

Winners receive cash scholarship awards, which can be used for summer study at camps such as Herter Music's camp to CMU, Blue Lakes, and Interlochen. Optionally the awards may be used to buy instruments, music, and other music related items.

The Saturday competition is held at St. Boniface Church. The next afternoon winners and their families and friends came back to the church for the Winner Showcase Recital. The public is invited to this free concert enjoy some great music and performances by some of the area's most talented young people.

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. All scholarship funds come from contributions and the all volunteer organization grants the majority of these funds to scholarships.

For more information visit www.BayMusicFoundation.org

MyBayCity.com Congratulates
The Bay Music Foundation's
2008 Scholarship Winners!

Advanced 1st place Tony Rongo Honor Award Kenneth Yagiela
Instrumental Intermediate - 1st Place Madison Diehl	Instrumental Intermediate - 2nd Zachary Barber
Piano Intermediate - 1st Matthew Powers	Voice Intermediate - 1st Carly Peil
Voice Intermediate - 2nd Mallory Rivard	Voice Intermediate - Honorable Mention Melissa Berg
Instrumental Senior - 1st Brian Wirsing	Piano Senior - 1st April Lukowski
Piano Senior - 2nd Bianca Henika	Piano Senior - Honorable Mention Samantha Smith
Voice Senior - 1st Alejandro Cervantes	Musical Theater Senior - 1st Madeline Lynch
Musical Theater Senior - 2nd Dylan Ratell	Advanced 2nd place Johnathan Costello

Links to Bay Music Foundation Stories
2017 Competition 2016 Competition 2015 Competition 2014 Competition 2013 Competition 2012 Competition 2011 Competition 2011 Celebration of the Arts 2011 Competition 2010 Celebration of the Arts 2010 Competition	2009 Celebration of the Arts 2009 Competition 2008 Competition 2007 Competition 2006 Bay Concert Assn. Donation 2006 Competition 2004 Competition Announcement 2003 Competition 2003 Competition Announcement

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

lindamacstud Says:       On February 16, 2009 at 11:35 AM Thank you for the great article (and pictures) on the Bay Music Foundation Scholarship Awards, and for acknowledging the talent of all these young people. Middle school and High school are very busy years for all the students, and these young musicians make practice a priority to develop their gifts and talents. Congratulations to all who competed, especially the award winners!

Anonymous Says:       On February 20, 2009 at 04:30 PM Having attended the Winners' Showcase, I must say we are really surrounded by a great group of talented young people in this area! They are to be commended! Thank you Bay Music Foundation fro recognizing these talented young people and for giving them a "stage" on which to show their talent.

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Stephen Kent
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations. More from Stephen Kent

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