Amarillo Youth Orchestra Awards Four Scholarships
Spring concert also recognizes outstanding musicianship of 49 students
AMARILLO, TEXAS – (May 1, 2014) – The Amarillo Symphony, (www.amarillosymphony.org), the leader of orchestral music in the Texas Panhandle since 1924, today recognizes the outstanding musicianship and dedication of more than 50 members of the Amarillo Youth Orchestra.
The Amarillo Symphony presents several scholarships to Youth Orchestra musicians each year, including: the Clyde Roller Summer Music Program Scholarship to support participation in a summer music camp, the Suzanne Grooms Scholarship to support a graduating senior entering college to participate in the music program, and the Helen Gerald Scholarship to also support a graduating senior entering college to participate in the music program. The winners of the 2014 Clyde Roller Scholarship are Benito Flores, a bassist in the Amarillo Youth Philharmonic, and Kaydee Sessions, a cellist in the Amarillo Youth Symphony. The winner of the 2014 Suzanne Grooms Scholarship is Ian Tackitt, a violinist in the Amarillo Youth Symphony. The winner of the 2014 Helen Gerald Scholarship is Hunter Morris, concertmaster of the Amarillo Youth Symphony.
“The Amarillo Symphony is proud to sponsor the Amarillo Youth Orchestra,” said Susan White, executive director of the Amarillo Symphony. “This program is a vital portion of our education programs allowing us to develop future musicians and audience members of the Amarillo Symphony. The growth and vitality of the Amarillo Youth Orchestra reinforces our belief that the Symphony is crucial to the development of young people in our community.”
Each ensemble of the Amarillo Youth Orchestra also recognized several members for their outstanding contributions this season. The Amarillo Youth Preparatory Strings recognized the following students for the Musicianship Award: Abraham Padilla, Jeremy Kongdara, Elizabeth Sell, John Sosa, Jaiden Anglen, Macie Groomer, Ethan Purdy, Patrick Snyder, Katelynn Ledger, D’monya Neal; and recognized the following students for the Preparatory Primo Award: Samar Ahmed, Andrea Borron, Viviana Gomez, Caitlyn Seymour, Addison Murray, Emily Barcroft, Hailey Bustamante, Audrey Pleming, Cody Kitchens.
The Amarillo Youth Sinfonia recognized the following Most Outstanding students: Megan Harris, Jada Wooten, Thipphavanh Keophimphone, Jacob Slover, Elisa Burnett; and recognized the following Most Improved Students: Hannah Kimbley, Madison Starksspear, Connor Lincycomb, Todd Watkins, Kelsey Ortega.
The Amarillo Youth Philharmonic recognized the following Most Outstanding students: Vy Do, Mallory Grimm, Ericka Rodriguez, Thomas Diaz, Benito Flores; and recognized the following Most Improved students: Joshua McElreath, Makayla Beebe, Andrew Boggs, Joaquin Salas, Gracyn J. Goudschaal.
The Amarillo Youth Symphony recognized the following Most Outstanding students: Hunter Morris, Sarah Wheeler, Tomy Douangkeo, Kaydee Sessions, Ashley Wang, and Thomas Britt. Jacob Sexton was also recognized as the Amarillo Youth Symphony’s Most Valuable Player and Aiden Farren was recognized as the Most Improved Player.
The Amarillo Symphony would like to thank the Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust, the Crystelle Wagonner Charitable Trust, the Xcel Energy Foundation and Market Street for their support of the Amarillo Youth Orchestra.
For more information about the program, please visit www.amarillosymphony.org/education-Amarillo-Youth-Orchestra.
About the Amarillo Symphony
Founded in 1924, the mission of the Amarillo Symphony (www.amarillosymphony.org) is to infuse the Amarillo community with an unbridled enthusiasm for the performance and discovery of great orchestral music. The Amarillo Symphony is the only professional orchestra in the Texas Panhandle and offers an array of successful youth educational programs in addition to regularly scheduled concerts.
The 2013 – 2014 season is sponsored in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Learn more about the Amarillo Symphony at www.amarillosymphony.org.
