Middle and high school instrumental and voice students audition before a panel of judges.
Categories: Voice, Piano, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, Guitar/Harp
Judges determine awards based on ranking of student performances in each category
Funding: Individual donors and MFGN Scholarship Fund
Note:
• This is the final list of the Scholarship Competition for 2021. Certificates and checks will be mailed by the first week of May, 2021.
• The Winners’ Recital for April 24, 2021, is being postponed until the fall (date pending).
• Those eligible for the Hammes Musician Scholar Award will be contacted within the next few weeks.
High Strings
1st Place – $1500
Amanda Drake, violin
12th Grade, Student of Joan Stewart and Daniela Shtereva
2nd Place – $1000
Alondra Damian-Noyola, viola
11th Grade, Student of Lisa Mattson
3rd Place – $750
Alex Dimaras, violin
9th Grade, Student of Anton Sikuta
Honorable Mention – $250
Laurel Brown, viola
11th Grade, Student of Joan Stewart
Low Strings
1st Place – $1500
Panos Dimaras, cello
12th Grade, Student of Si-Cheng Liu
2nd Place – $1000
Sophie Leah, string bass
12th Grade, Student of Kevin Mauldin
3rd Place – $750
Osie Allen, cello
11th Grade, Student of Thomas May
Piano
Judges’ Award – $300
Austin Reyes, piano
10th Grade, Student of Joseph Bigler
Flute
1st Place – $1500
Daoyi Liu, flute
9th Grade, Student of Beth Larsen
2nd Place – $1000
Maria Dinan, flute
12th Grade, Student of Wendy Willis
3rd Place – $750
Drea Dasilva, flute
9th Grade, Student of Wendy Willis
Honorable Mention – $250
Alexander Smuda, flute
10th Grade, Student of Wendy Willis
Voice
1st Place – $1500
Madeline Vickers, voice
11th Grade, Student of Laura Ferranti
2nd Place – $1000
Izabella Gulcher, voice
10th Grade, Student of Rebecca Richardson
Brass
1st Place – $1500
Clara Marti Garro, French horn
11th Grade, Student of Ryan Little
2nd Place – $1000
Micah Evans, Trumpet
12th Grade, Student of Steve DeLadurantey
Single Reeds
1st Place – $1500
Matthew Johnson, saxophone
12th Grade, Student of Don Rhynard
2nd Place – $1000
Shelby Kahn, clarinet
10th Grade, Student of Paul Votapek
3rd Place – $750
Dawson Huynh, clarinet
10th Grade, Student of Paul Votapek
Double Reeds
Judges’ Award – $500
Christopher Axline, oboe
12th Grade, Student of Judy Christy
Percussion
1st Place – $1500
Lucas Bradshaw, percussion
12th Grade, Student of John Evans
2nd Place – $1000
Aiden Cahill, percussion
12th Grade, Student of John Evans
3rd Place – $750
Nicholas Gaudio, percussion
10th Grade, Student of John Evans
Honorable Mention – $250
Trey Leslie, percussion
9th Grade, Student of John Evans
Strings
1st Place – $700
Lucia Marti Garro, violin
8th Grade, Student of Anton Sikuta
2nd Place – $500
Josiah Fleming, cello
8th Grade, Student of Angie Villanueva
Guitar
Judges Award – $500
Name: Paloma Chaprnka, guitar
6th Grade, Student of Irina Kulikova
Voice
1st Place – $700
Alessia Pellegrini, voice
8th Grade, Student of Rebecca Richardson
2nd Place – $500
Hadley Murphey, voice
8th Grade, Student of Rebecca Richardson
3rd Place – $300
Savanna Paupore, voice
6th Grade, Student of Rebecca Richardson
Honorable Mention – $100
Aria Vasquez, voice
8th Grade, Student of Rebecca Richardson
Brass
Judges Award – $500
Name: Rachel Kastner, French horn
6th Grade, Student of Stacy and Robert Kastner
Flutes
1st Place – $700
Miranda Leone, flute
6th Grade, Student of Beth Larsen
Woodwinds
1st Place – $700
Nicholas Snow, saxophone
8th Grade, Student of Don Rhynard
2nd Place – $500
Tricia Jackson, clarinet
8th Grade, Student of Paul Votapek
Honorable Mention – $100
Carlos Cazorla Vergel, saxophone
8th Grade, Student of Don Rhynard
Honorable Mention – $100
Rose Aune, oboe
7th Grade, Student of Judy Christy
Percussion
Judges Award – $300
Name: Jaik Wolfe, percussion
8th Grade, Student of John Evans
2021 Rules-Regulations — Scholarship information download here
note: The deadline for submission of the Scholarship Application was February 22, 2021
The following are scholarships underwritten by the following donors:
Clifford Saby Family, First Place Senior Violin
Phyllis Warren Family Award—First Place Senior Piano
Marilyn Scott Memorial Fund—Second Place Piano
Myra Williams Award—First Place Junior strings
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The $3,000 Hammes Musician Scholar Award is presented to a 12th grader, based upon competition score, music achievement, scholastic grade point average, community service, an essay, a personal interview and a recital program. Graciously underwritten since 2018 by Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hammes, this award succeeds the Turiel established in 1995 by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Turiel in memory of their son David.
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Alden Gatt,
1st place in our piano scholarship competition
“Dear Naples Music Club,
I’m sorry I can’t be there in person to celebrate this milestone with you! There is SO much to celebrate. My experience with the Naples Music Club competitions and recitals as a teenager shaped my life and career, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. Financially, the competition awards helped pay for my piano lessons with Lan Lam, sponsored my summer music festival training at the Luzerne Music Center, Brevard Music Center, and Orford Music Academy, and the Turiel Prize offset some of my tuition at the Eastman School of Music. Needless to say, these programs developed my technical and artistic abilities to create the musician I am today. More than that, however, the encouragement and validation that I received from you was enough to convince me that I was on the right path in the first place, and that I should continue pursuing my dream of being a pianist. Having lived in Germany now for several years, the contrast to the US is remarkable in terms of how much exposure students receive in classical music, and how much classical music is simply a part of everyone’s lives. In an age when the US suffers from a lack of appreciation for the arts, nurturing a passion for classical music in young students is priceless.
So, I wish I could be there today to applaud you for all the work you have done and are continuing to do. You have helped support and foster the talent of so many developing musicians, and I’m honored to be one of them!”
Johanne Nordilus,
MFGN award-winning voice student in 2010 and 2011, 2011 graduate of Palmetto Ridge High School, presently attending Florida State University in Tallahassee:
“I would like to thank the [Music Foundation of Greater Naples] for all of the wonderful opportunities you provide for young performers like me to grow musically. Through the Scholarship Program I’ve gained performance experience and more knowledge on technique. With the funds that I was awarded I was able to take voice lessons and help pay for my college expenses. This club is a wonderful organization that is helping keep music alive in Naples and giving students the chance of a lifetime to continue to study music. Thank you all for the work you’ve done. I know this organization will continue to change the lives of students for years to come. I truly appreciate all that you do! Sincerely, Johanne Nordilus”