2014 Scholarship Recipients Awarded

2014 Scholarship Recipients Awarded

On Saturday, March 29, 2014, Friday Musicale and the Florida Federation for Music: St. John’s District co-presented their scholarship competitions at the Friday Musicale Auditorium, located at 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204.

Applications were available throughout February and March 2014 and were open to all graduating high school seniors that would be majoring in music in college.

Each participant auditioned two memorized pieces and were judged based on performance only. Students were eligible to receive more than one scholarship. Judging the competition were Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra principal tuba player James Jenkins; concert pianist and Professor of Music at Edward Waters College Michelle Huang; and UNF Professor of Music and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s former principal percussionist Charlotte Mabrey.

Judges & Scholarship Recipients
Judges: James Jenkins, Michelle Huang & Charlotte Mabrey with Scholarship Recipients: Connor Monday, Jessye Thacker, Natalie Vlach & Rachel Lovelace

Friday Musicale’s Marian Armington Waterman Poitevent Instrumental Scholarship for $4,000 per year for four consecutive years was awarded to Rachel Lovelace, bassoon. Rachel is a senior at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and has studied music for seven years. Rachel’s current teacher, Anthony Anurca, was awarded a Friday Musicale philanthropic scholarship in 1999 and is a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra playing contrabassoon. Rachel has not yet decided where she will be attending school in the fall.

2014 Scholarship Recipients
2014 Scholarship Recipients

The Mary Elizabeth Land Scholarship for Piano for $500 and the 2014 FFMC District President’s Scholarship for Piano St. John’s District for $500 were both awarded to Natalie Vlach, piano. Natalie is a senior at Homelife Academy and has studied music for ten years. Natalie has been accepted to Florida State University, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Samford University, Auburn University, and the University of North Florida.

2014 FFMC District President’s Scholarship for Strings St. John’s Districtfor $500 was awarded to Jessye Thacker, viola. Jessye is a senior at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and has studied music for twelve years. Jessye is attending The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.

2014 FFMC District President’s Scholarship for Instrument other than Strings or Voice St. John’s District for $500 was awarded to Connor Monday, horn. Connor is a senior at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and has studied music for twelve years. Connor has not yet decided where he will be attending school in the fall.

As early as 1910, Friday Musicale was raising money for music in public schools and sponsoring “Children’s Days” with programs for and by children. The club purchased instruments, and provided music lessons and scholarships to summer music camps in Asheville, NC and Interlochen, MI. In 1944, philanthropic work became a separate department composed of past presidents living in the city. Philanthropic scholarships for promising students began in the 1930s. In the 1960s, the department established several college scholarships. The Philanthropic Committee decided to hold auditions for scholarships annually, beginning April 2, 2005.

2014 Scholarship Recipient Rachel Lovelace
Friday Musicale Past President: Eleanor King; Poitevent Scholarship Recipient: Rachel Lovelace; Friday Musicale Board President: Pam Franklin

Past President and Past Philanthropic Scholarship Committee Chair of Friday Musicale Eleanor King, 99, attended the scholarship competition and was very pleased with the tremendous talent the students displayed. Eleanor is pictured below with Poitevent Scholarship recipient Rachel Lovelace and Board President Pam Franklin.

Friday Musicale will present its Scholarship Laureates in concert on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 7:30pm at the Friday Musicale Auditorium, 645 Oak Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Doors will open at 7:00pm. Concert is free and open to the public.