Blackwood Theater Organ Society Awards $22,500 in Music Scholarships
Image: Blackwood Scholarship Winners [click image for larger view]
BLACKWOOD THEATER ORGAN SOCIETY AWARDS $22,500 IN MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
JEREMY KATZ—(flute)—Jeremy is from Bala Cynwyd, PA and attends Lower Merion High School. He is a member of his High School Pep Band and Musical Pit Orchestra and has been the Principal Flute chair in Wind Ensemble for 4 years running. He has participated in District Band and Orchestra, Penn State Flute Day and many community groups to perform his music.
BETHANY LUEERS–(clarinet)—A resident of Allison Park, Bethany attends Hampton High School. She is Principal clarinetist with the High School Band and Wind Ensemble. She is also a member of the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet and Youth Symphony Orchestras, PMEA All-State, Regional, and District Orchestras and Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra.
ELI NARAGON—(double bass)—Eli is from Mt. Lebanon and attends the Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh. A member of his high school jazz band, Eli has participated in the PMEA Orchestra and Festivals and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is a bassist at the Carnegie Mellon Summer Pre-College Jazz Program and is a winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
MATTHEW RUWE—(trumpet)—Matthew attends Seneca Valley High School and is a resident of Cranberry Township. He is a member of his High School Marching Band, Wind and Jazz Ensembles as well as the PMEA District, Regional and All-State Bands, and the River City Youth Brass Band. He has earned the position of lead trumpet Chair in the PMEA District 5 Jazz Ensemble.
INORI SAKAI—(violin)—Inori is from Penn Hills and attends The Ellis School in Pittsburgh. She was Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony from 2010-13 and a soloist 3 times with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall. She has won many competitions and recently received the honor of acceptance into the National Youth Symphony.
JONAH TROUT—(bass trombone)—Jonah is from Canonsburg, PA and attends Canon-McMillan High School. He is an active member of his High School Brass Ensemble, Marching and Concert Bands and Musical Pit Orchestra. Outside of school, he plays with the River City Youth Brass Band, Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.
Scholarships were awarded on the basis of musical talent, recommendations from private and high school music teachers, academic performance, the written essay, motivation and financial need. Finalists auditioned at Heinz Hall on March 16 before a panel of musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “This program has consistently drawn a selection of very accomplished players and the competition is high. This year’s recipients are smart, driven, and very talented,” said Jim Rodgers, principal contrabassoonist with the Pittsburgh Symphony and a judge for several years.
Over the past fourteen years, the Society has awarded more than $221,000 in scholarships to the top high school musicians. Scholarship amounts range from $2500 to $5000 with an average of six recipients per year. Past recipients have attended some of the most renowned music schools in the country including Julliard, the New England Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College, Berklee College of Music and the Eastman School of Music.
The Blackwood Theater Organ Society is a not-for-profit organization created to encourage students to pursue instrumental music performance careers. The Blackwood Estate is home to a rare Wurlitzer theater pipe organ and concerts featuring internationally-acclaimed performers are held annually with the proceeds going towards the scholarship fund and other charities.
For scholarship and other information for the Blackwood Theatre Organ Society scholarships visit www.blackwoodmusic.org or contact Ben Robertson at ben@blackwoodmusic.org or by phone at 724.735.2813.