Cincinnati teen awarded $10,000 music scholarship

Beth Stewart

Founder

Verismo Communications

Classical Music PR

BOSTON, MA–From the Top, America’s largest national platform celebrating young classically trained musicians, announces the 2024 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. 

Anthony Dorsey, a promising 17-year-old violinist from Cincinnati, is a recipient of one of the $10,000 awards and will use these funds to upgrade his violin and attend college auditions and recording sessions. In addition to the financial support, all Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists appear in a From the Top episode broadcast nationwide, participate in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab, and join a growing cohort of diverse young people from across the country, supported by a network of industry professionals with a genuine desire to empower young musicians.

Out of more than 250 applicants, 21 exceptionally promising pre-collegiate musicians with demonstrated need were chosen to receive up to $10,000 each. These funds are made available for instrument purchases, summer camp tuition, college audition expenses, private lessons, and other music-related needs.

From the Top is best known for its flagship broadcast of the same name, which airs weekly on nearly 200 radio stations nationwide. For over 20 years, From the Top has built an impressive platform to celebrate the music, lives, and stories of youngsters playing classical music.”

“This award and the exceptional artists it supports are changing the face of classical music,” said From the Top Executive Director Gretchen Nielsen. “The costs of high-level study, instruments, and auditions have historically been huge barriers, keeping talented performers from reaching their full potential. We are proud to connect dedicated young artists like Anthony Dorsey with the resources and encouragement needed to pursue a career in music.”

Anthony Dorsey (violin), 17, is a senior at St. Xavier High School and studies violin with Kurt Sassmannshaus through the Starling Strings Project at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Preparatory Program.

Anthony has been a musician of the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Cincinnati Junior Strings Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Nouveau Chamber Players, and the Nouveau Pre-Conservatory program. He has also been an Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) Regional and All-State Orchestra qualifier. He has enjoyed performing regularly in the community together with his three brothers who also play string instruments.    

Anthony has spent his summers attending Cincinnati Young Artist Chamber Music Festival, Sphinx Performance Academy at the Curtis Institute of Music, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Online Solo Strings Intensive. Recently, he received the Outstanding Concert Soloist award at the 2022 Walt Disney Festival, was named a National Semi-Finalist in the Junior Division of the 2023 Sphinx Competition, and a scholarship recipient of Matinee Musicale Cincinnati. This 2023-2024 season, Anthony will solo with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in their Young People’s Concert as well as in their Stain Glass Concerts – community outreach efforts in local churches combining the traditional classical symphony, music by African American or African-descended composers, and a Gospel finale.

Outside of music, Anthony excels as an honors student at St. Xavier High School and is a member of the National Honors Society. He is involved in the student council and as a campus ministry leader. He enjoys his work as an Admissions Ambassador and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion core team member, and is an avid swimmer and a member of the Aquabomber competitive swim team.