The 2019 SBO Scholarship Essay Contest Winners

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, 8^th 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, 6^th 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 7^th 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, 12^th 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, 12^th grade student essay winner, and scholarship presenter Fred Schiff the president of Allcounty Music