Flute Homeschooled Jefferson, OR Eight years ago, I began to play the flute, having chosen the instrument after hearing the instrument played in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Since then, I have competed in and won several competitions, including the Del Milne Memorial Competition and the Salem Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, as well as been principal of the Salem Youth Symphony and Jefferson High School Concert Band. I am extremely excited that the OMHOF College Scholarship will aid in furthering my music career in flute performance at Boston University.
Jasmine Terry-Shindelman
Violin Ashland High School Ashland, OR I always loved the violin and started playing when I was seven years old. I have had the opportunity to study music with two amazing teachers here in Ashland, Faina Podolnaya, and Cynthia Hutton, both of whom I would like to thank for their support and inspiration. I am going to be attending Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine next year, and I know that the OMHOF scholarship will be a huge help to me and my family in paying for tuition. Thank you!
Jean Choi
Cello and Piano Westview HS Portland, OR I first fell in love with the cello when I heard its dark, resonant sound. The OMHOF college scholarship will help me pay for my college tuition at Amherst and for the transportation of my cello while flying back and forth from college to home, here in Portland.
Alex McDougall
Percussion and Drumset Central Catholic HS Milwaukie, OR Alex McDougall will be attending the University of North Texas as a jazz studies major this coming fall. He is both excited and grateful for the OMHOF scholarship as it will be used to purchase professional level percussion equipment needed for college, and pay for his first year practice room rental and music departmental fees. Already a piano student for 7 years, Alex chose percussion in the 6th grade out of extreme curiosity and now enjoys the many textural layers of rhythm and tone percussion instruments can produce.
Emma Davis
Voice West Linn HS West Linn, OR After spending years studying the flute, I decided to start classical voice lessons in eight grade because I had always had a passion for singing. Singing has given me many wonderful opportunities, and this past year, it brought me all the way to the Grammy Awards where I performed with Esperanza Spalding. I am thrilled and honored to be an OMHOF college scholarship recipient and am looking forward to using that scholarship at Emerson College in Boston this fall.
The scholarships will be presented at the Portland Rose Festival on the concert stage and each one of the recipients will get to perform a number.
2010 OMHOF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PRESENTATION
Thanks to Safeco for Funding a 4th Scholarship, Wednesday May 12th 5PM @ Jimmy Mak’s.
The Oregon Music Hall of Fame (OMHOF) held their annual Scholarship Presentation on Wednesday May 12th at Jimmy Mak’s at 5pm. OMHOF presented high school seniors from the sate of Oregon with scholarships with 3 of the recipients performing at the event.
This years' recipients were:
Cara Gabrielson, Beaverton High School (Voice )
Julie Asparro, Lake Oswego High School (Viola)
Jenny Asparro, Lake Oswego High School (Violin and Piano)
Rebecca Lomnicky, Corvallis High School (Scottish Fiddle, Piano, Voice)
2009 OMHOF SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PRESENTATION at JIMMY MAK'S: Watch out Portland, and the world!
By Ty Hitzemann
May 6th- What a great evening the OMHOF Scholarship Awards were! Another stellar collection of exceptionally gifted high school musicians from around Oregon were awarded money for continuing education in their various musical endeavors. Exceptional skills were showcased one by one as they came forward, took the stage and performed during an evening filled to the brim with creativity, passion and grace.
The Oregon Music Hall Of Fame strives each year to set up funding methods for such awards, and continually seeks to recognize the best , brightest and most influential musicians that Oregon has to offer. It's a scrutinizing task, as this year OMHOF's board selected four exceptionally gifted Oregon High School Seniors, out of 120 applicants, to accept monetary gifts toward scholarship in their various endeavors. Ultimately, the goal is not only to increase the dollar amount to future selected winners, but to also increase the monetary amounts each and every year through different means.
First up was intermediate, soon-to-be absolute pro: percussionist Mattew Keown from Springfield High School, who has already won in several categories and medals in Oregon at both District and State levels. He lives for the next one coming later this year. Matt's record is stunning in that he has worked with other noteworthy percussionists from NY, Detroit and LA Philharmonic as well as the Metropolitan Opera...wow!!
Matt's performance on Marimba to start the evening ceremony was what I'd call extremely powerful and energetic. He accomplished 2 movements for 'Solo Dancer' by Ekhart Kopetzki. The audience was captivated as he effortlessly made his way throughout these songs with meticulous calculation and purpose. His concentration was at once mesmerizing and tactile. The pause between movements was somewhere between a miniature eternity and breathless crescendo...worth the wait indeed!
Kate Davis from West Linn High School gave an invigorating performance which included both Bass and Vocals, showcasing both exceptional talent and sense of humor. Kate has a great personality and a particular affinity for entertaining her audience. She performed the songs: "Whisper Not, Little Girl and Lonely Town. Tom Grant saw fit to back her up on piano along with Ron Steen playing drums. One can only imagine the privilege of peaking interest in such legendary musicians. Yet who could be surprised by them taking interest in these youths? These young people are a testament to exceptional talent and drive to master their craft, as well as what the power of music can inspire. The winning combination of dedication, practice and will to succeed is bound to attract the attention of Portland's own musical masters to accompany. Kate's vocals were riveting to say the least...full of passion, grace and vibrato. Well done!
Maya Dair Rothfuss from Portland attends the Portland Waldorf School. She freights an impressive record of Master Class in playing viola, as well as bass. She is a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic, winning 3 Orchestral All-State honors over a four year period, as well as first place for both of her well-practiced musical talents. Her other achievements are too numerous to mention, but could not over-shadow her great performance on the stage.
She performed "Der Schwanenendrehet (1st movement)", by Hindemith on viola, and carrying the piece up to the heavens with one of her instructors accompanying her on piano. She topped her performance off with 2 vocal movements: Silent Noon by Vaughn Williams, and "voi Che Sapete", by Mozart. Maya carefully strode the stage along with her muse while expressing an ease of a consummate professional, which in many ways she already is. Her Scholarship Award came from Audix Microphones of Wilsonville, Oregon, who manufacture some of the best performance microphones anywhere.
Florence, Oregon Siuslaw High School student Kai Sandoval has an incredible affinity for playing jazz well beyond his young years. It seems worthy to mention that a good number of contemporary jazz pioneers started playing at very young ages, some produced legendary classics while still in their teens. Charley Parker created innovative approaches to melody, rhythm, and harmony while in his teens. Kai exercises an enormous ability to inject a new influence upon potential contemporaries who may strive to innovate new jazz. He exhibited good tempo, virtuosic technique and improvisation based on harmonic structure. He clocked in a couple classic jazz standards. First was Parker's, "Billy's Bounce", a complex yet airy song...nice pick.
OMHOF Board member Kevin Rankin accompanied on drums to Benny Golson's "I Remember Clifford", a melancholy blues number written for a young man cut-off tragically in his prime. Miles Davis' ode to "Donna Lee" Russell was his finale. One can only figure such talented individuals such as Kai are destined to create some pregnant ripples throughout the local jazz community and beyond. His trumpet playing showed an acute edge for originality.
OMHOF President Terry Currier provided introductions and descriptions for the Awards in front of the very proud teachers, friends and family. All of the recipients posed proudly with their Scholarship awards of One Thousand Dollars each along side the entire OMHOF Board and supporting musicians.
2008 Scholarship Recipients:
Adrienne Hoarfrost of Wilson High School - voice
Ryan Andersen of Rex Putman H.S. - drums & percussion
Rob Elmer of Benson H.S. - trombone & voice
Rick Vranish of Sunset H.S. - clarinet, saxophone, percussion, conducting
Michelle Leipzig of Valley Catholic - Piano & Cello
It is getting to be that time of year when Kate escapes from New York and heads to the Northwest for the holidays. This year, she is only playing two nights in Portland:
December 17th- 8:00 until 11:00 at Wilf’s Restaurant for a $10 cover www.wilfsrestaurant.com
December 27th- 8:00 until 11:00 at Jimmy Mak’s for a $10 cover www.jimmymaks.com
Jasmine Terry Shindelman
Jasmine sent us this card that she made from a picture she took of her own instrument!
You can get on the bandwagon and make a sound investment for Oregon. You can join OMHOF for only $30.00. Sign up as a volunteer and help us keep Oregon music alive.
Emily Potter
Jasmine Terry-Shindelman
Jean Choi
Alex McDougall
Emma Davis
