(L to R) Anna Showalter (3rd place/Upper Division - Mary Thienes-Schunemann Award); Priscila Navarro (Special Award/Lower Division - Edith & Herb Winston Award); Paul Wright (2nd Place/Lower Division - Sarasota Music Club Award); Seba Ali (Special Award/Upper Division - Lorraine Coletti Award); Lior Willinger (3rd Place/Lower Division Claude & Francine Engle Award); Joshua Sawicki (2nd Place/Upper Division - Artist Series FRIENDS Award); Leah Dodds (1st Place/Upper Division - Virginia B. Toulmin Award); Jason Nong (1st Place/Lower Division - Jerold & Lee Dougherty Ross Award). Not pictured: Semi-finalists receiving the Donald Britt Award - (Lower Division) Gabrielle Chou, Emily Nourishirazi, Christopher Wan. (Upper Division) Chritopher Ohanian, Lawrence Quinnett, Adam Ravain.
Artist Series of Sarasota Scholarship Program
One of the primary goals of the Artist Series of Sarasota is to provide support to promising young musicians. Our Scholarship fund was established in 2002 concurrent with the granting of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. From 2002 to 2006 multiple scholarships were provided to three outstanding young musicians. Composer/Pianist, Roger Zare studied at the University of Southern California and is now at the Peabody Institute of Music. Matthew Harrison received his Bachelor’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music in the Spring of 2006 and entered a Master’s degree program there in the Fall of 2006. Soprano, Monica Pasquini completed her Senior year of undergraduate study at Rollins College in Florida in the Spring of 2007.
In April of 2007 the Artist Series of Sarasota began a new expanded Statewide scholarship and performance award program under the guidance of Scholarship Coordinator, Joy McIntyre. Monies for the Scholarship and Performance awards are provided by our Scholarship Fund, from our Operating Fund, as well as from fund raising activities, including the Annual Scholarship Dinner scheduled for March 26, 2009 at the Oaks Club.
In 2007 the scholarship and program focused on voice with $13,000 awarded; in 2008 the program centered on piano with cash awards totalling $16,000. In 2009 the competition focuses on string players invited from throughout the State of Florida.
THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
With leadership gifts from Artist Series Co-founders, Jerold Ross and Lee Dougherty Ross and Virginia Toulmin the fund was begun in 2002. Both continue to provide annual support to the fund. In 2006 Virginia Toulmin made a $100,000 gift to the organization which was increased by an additional $71,000 in donations and pledges to the fund.
