Suncoast Music Scholarships Competition Awards $22,000 to Local Students

SARASOTA – Suncoast Music Scholarships awarded $22,000 to eight talented young musicians from Sarasota and Manatee counties to be used for music education expenses. The scholarships are a partnership between Sarasota Music Club and Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota.

In this second annual competition, there were 15 schools and 12 music disciplines represented by the 40 students who submitted applications.

Two 10th grade students selected for Suncoast Music Scholarship awards of $1,000 each are: Andrea Guaita, violin, home schooled; and Daniel Solowey, clarinet, Pine View High School. The two 11th grade students selected to receive $2,000 scholarship awards are: Katherine Herbert, voice, Booker High School; and Michael Miller, clarinet, Lakewood Ranch High School.

Judges for the 12th grade competition decided that second place should be awarded to two competitors. The four 12th grade students selected to receive scholarships are: 1st place, $5,000 – Graeme Sugden, flute, Braden River High School; 2nd place, $4,000 – Joshua Guaita, piano, home schooled; 2nd place, $4,000 – Ryan Schmidt, guitar, Manatee School for the Arts; and 3rd place, $3,000 – Daphne Waggener, viola, Riverview High School.

The 12th grade award recipients performed at the Suncoast Music Scholarships Awards Luncheon, held at Michael’s on East in Sarasota on May 6.

Both organizations in the partnership have long histories of supporting music education through scholarship programs. Sarasota Music Club has been promoting music education and performance since 1930. An annual competition held by Artist Series Concerts that rotates between voice, piano and string instruments, previously a statewide competition, was expanded to a national level last year. Over the past decade, that competition has awarded nearly $300,000 to 80 gifted musicians.

SMS committee co-chair Lee Dougherty Ross, co-founder of Artist Series Concerts and director of the organization’s outreach and competitions, said, "This scholarship program helps support music education for our very talented competition winners, and it offers a valuable audition opportunity to many more students. Congratulations to the 2017 winners, and sincere thanks to our wonderful judges and terrific volunteers.“

Sarasota Music Club board president Mary Webb said, "We are so grateful to be able to support music education through this partnership inspired by Lee Dougherty Ross and John Alan Fischer of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota.“

The partnering organizations also offer music performance programs. Sarasota Music Club offers free, member- and donor-supported performances October through March. Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presents world-class musical programs in a diverse range of genres, including classical, cabaret, pop, Broadway, orchestral and opera, from September through May.