Every year, we at SBO magazine keep our eyes (and ears!) peeled for the next great voices of the newest generation of band and orchestra students.
When young musicians submit to our annual essay contest, we listen attentively, and this year, we received submissions in droves about the roles that music programs across the country have played in bringing schools and communities together. While we’re proud to present these winners, we also want to thank our sponsors for their help with both judging these entries and providing the scholarships for these stellar students.
We offer our congratulations to the ten essay winners, pictured in this feature with their music directors and local music shop representatives.
Ella Fogle
Grade 8 Age 13
College View Middle School
Owensboro, KY 42303
Byron Lee of Music Central (Hopkinsville, KY) presents the SBO Scholarship check to Ella Fogle, 8th grade student at College View Middle School (Owensboro ,KY), along with music director Jed Manire
Avi Maun
Grade 6 Age 12
Sycamore School
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Tim Dawson, director of School Sales at Paige’s Music (Indianapolis, IN) Avi Maun, 6th grade scholarship winner (Sycamore School, Indianapolis), and music director Candi Granlund
Madison Thompson
Grade 7 Age 13
Floyd Middle Magnet School
Montgomery, AL 36104
Matt King, store manager, Art’s Music Shop (Montgomery, AL) with scholarship winner Madison Thompson, a 7th grader at Floyd Middle Magnet School, and her music director Coleman Woodson Jr.
Sarah Wheeler
Grade 7 Age 12
Home Schooled
Alavaton, KY 42122
Ian Panton of The Violin Shop (Nashville, TN) with scholarship winner Sarah Wheeler and her music instructor Julianna Waller
Emily Xia
Grade 8 Age 13
Holmes Junior High School
Davis, CA 95616
Davis High School & Holmes Jr. High orchestra director, Angelo Moreno; essay award winner, Emily Xia; Watermelon Music owner, Jeff Simons
Caleb Bell
Grade 12 Age 17
Dell City ISD
Dell City, TX 79837
Mr. and Mrs. Bell, student winner Caleb Bell, music teacher Drew Stuart, former music teacher Jacob Walston, and school principal Carlos Contreras
Katherine Heath
Grade 11 Age 16
Bloomfield Hills High School
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Music director Alan Posner of Bloomfield Hills High School (Bloomfield, MI) with essay winner Katherine Heath and scholarship presenter Dan McCourt of McCourt’s Music Group (Berkley, MI)
Deedee Hernandez
Grade 12 Age 18
Chelsea High School
Chelsea, MA 02150
Music teacher Shannon Chick of Chelsea High School (Chelsea, MA) with Deedee Hernandez, 12th grade student scholarship winner, Kayla Davis of Music & Arts, and performing arts teacher Pete Pappavaselio
Marta Lukomska
Grade 12 Age 18
Cleveland Charter High School
Reseda, CA 91335
TJ Milian of Sam Ash Music presents the scholarship check to Marta Lukomska of Cleveland Charter High School (Reseda, CA) and her music teacher Cameron Yassaman
Hadassa Morais
Grade 12 Age 17
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Parkland, FL 33076
Alexander Kaminsky, director of bands at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School (Parkland, FL) with Hadassa Morais, 12th grade student essay winner, and scholarship presenter Fred Schiff the president of Allcounty Music
