By Nancy Bailey
baileyso@fuse.net
After two years as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fifth annual Nancy F. Walker Memorial Scholarship Competition for classical instrumental and vocal students, sponsored by Matinée Musicale Cincinnati, returned to its original in-person format. The 2022 competition awarded $54,000 in scholarships.
The competition was open to high school and college juniors and seniors. In a great response, students from five colleges and 14 public, private and home schools applied. Student auditions were adjudicated by highly qualified, distinguished judges who also provided comments shared with the individual students
Some of the winners’ stories are eye-catching. Soprano Ella Vaughn was at circus camp as a child and broke her wrist, which meant no more unicycles or doing tricks; so, she started voice lessons. Cellist Ari Webb’s mother is a violinist. She gave him a small violin when he was a child, which he insisted on holding like a cello; a few years later he started listening to YoYo Ma recordings every single night. Soprano Cora-Melin Mikat is one of five children, three of whom are singers.
Nancy Fuldner Walker, memorialized by these scholarships, was a musician, music teacher and strong advocate for all music and arts organizations. She provided able leadership to Matinée Musicale Cincinnati for more than four decades before her death in 2017. Matinée Musicale Cincinnati is honoring her legacy of support and encouragement of young musicians through these scholarships.
Learn more at matineemusicalecincinnati.org
Competition Winners
High School Instrumental
1st Place: Maxwell Fairman, violin; Almita Vamos, teacher
2nd Place: Ari Webb, cello; Alan Rafferty , teacher
3rd Place: Inesh Loka, piano; Richard Van Dyke, teacher
High School Vocal
1st Place: Ella Vaughn, soprano; Karl Resnik, teacher
2nd Place: Claire Hardek, soprano; Kimberly Buczek, teacher
3rd Place: Molly Chun, soprano; Talia Zoll, teacher
College Instrumental
1st Place: Nicholas Tsang, cello; Alan Rafferty, teacher
2nd Place: Layang Ka, violin; Kurt Sassmannshaus, teacher
3rd Place: Zhouyang Shao, piano; Awadagin Pratt, teacher
College Vocal
1st Place: Cora-Melin Mikat, soparano; Quinn Patrick Ankrum, teacher
2nd Place: Carolina Sullivan, soprano; Jessica Rivera Shafer, teacher
3rd Place: Matthew Goodheart, tenor; Thomas Baresel, teacher
Originating in 1911, Matinee Musicale began its professional recital series in 1913. The recitals feature up and coming musicians as well as established vocal and instrumental artists selected worldwide. Through a generous bequest from Louise Dieterle Nippert, philanthropist and Matinée member, the professional recital series continues to flourish. Awards of grants and student scholarships have become a part of the organization’s mission.