Past Youth Soloist Scholarship Recipients

2011-12

Adrille Eberly,  Fruitport High School , Trumpet 

Adrielle Eberly is the daughter of Samuel and Cheri Eberly. She is a senior at Fruitport High School where she plays trumpet in the Wind Ensemble, an audition only band for advanced students. She has played with the Muskegon Community College Wind Ensemble for the past two years.  Last season, she also played trumpet with the West Michigan Concert WINDS. Adrielle takes private lessons from Richard Stoelzel, Professor of Trumpet at Grand Valley State University. She is applying at music conservatories for a double major in composition and performance. Adrielle is a semi finalist in the National Trumpet Competition to be held in Virginia March 15 - 18, 2012.

Cory Spelde, Grand Haven High School, Bassoon

Cory Spelde is a senior at Grand Haven High School. He is a member of Grand Haven High School's Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Choir. He is currently a member of the West Michigan Concert WINDS and Lafayette Woodwind Quintet. He sat first chair at Grand Valley State University Honors Band and Central Michigan University Honors Band. Cory has been accepted as a music major at Central Michigan University. He plans to attend Central Michigan University for a double major in Bassoon Performance and Theory/Composition starting Fall semester 2012.

2010-11

Eric Hester, Reeths-Puffer High School, Trombone

Eric Hester is a senior at Reeths-Puffer High School under the direction of Charles Hodson and is currently tutored by Jim Ryke. His past instructors have also included Gail Brechting, Richard Erne, and Brian Olian. Eric is a member of the Reeths- Puffer Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Madrigals. He has been involved with Solo and Ensemble all four years of high school, receiving First Division Ratings every year, and this success has garnered him invitations to the Youth Arts Festival for the past two years. In addition to this, Eric has been involved in the Grand Valley State Honors Band and the West Michigan Youth Symphony, playing as first chair for both ensembles. Eric will be a member of the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University where he will pursue a degree in music education.

Justin Auten, Reeths-Puffer High School, Saxophone

Justin Auten, presently a senior at Reeths-Puffer High School, started playing the saxophone as a freshman.  During his high school years, Justin participated in the Reeths-Puffer Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Band and Reeths-Puffer Madrigal Choir. Justin's recognitions include: Most Outstanding Band Member, two-time recipient of Student of the Month, Arts Council of White Lake Music Scholarship and Division I - Ratings in District and State Solo and Ensemble competitions. In addition to his musical interests, he has held memberships in S.T.A.T.S, National Honor Society and Destination Imagination. He also plays with the West Michigan Concert Winds, has twice attended Western Michigan University's Seminar Summer Music Camp, and is a member of Cornerstone Free Methodist Church and Eternal Youth Ministries Group. Justin looks forward to a mission trip to Haiti this summer

2009-10

Emili Zacek, Spring Lake High School, Flute 

Emily Zacek, a senior at Spring Lake High School, has been playing the flute for seven years. She has attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Interlochen Fine Arts Camp, and the MPulse Ann Arbor Flute Institute at the University of Michigan. Emily is the only flute/piccolo player to have been named All State by the MSBOA for five consecutive years. She has earned division I ratings at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival for six consecutive years, and has earned scores of 98 and 99 at State Solo and Ensemble Festival. She serves as section leader for the Spring Lake High School Marching and Symphonic Bands, and has performed in the highly selective pit orchestra for the musicals at Spring Lake High School. Emily was a semi-finalist in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Soloist Competition in 2009. She plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall, with hopes of double majoring in flute performance and political science.

2008-09

Bryce Kyle, Reeths-Puffer High School, Clarinet

Bryce began playing clarinet in fifth grade.  He is currently the principal clarinet in the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony as well as in the Wind Ensemble at Reeths-Puffer High School.  He is studying with the Suzy Bratton, principal clarinet with the Grand Rapids Symphony.

2007-08

Thomas Pascale, Mason County High School Senior, Tuba

Thomas began playing tuba in fifth grade at Pentwater Schools.  During his seventh grade year, he also began to play trombone and baritone.  Thomas plays in his High School Jazz and Concert band, and is a 5-year member of the Scottville Clown Band. He also plays with the Pentwater Civic Band, West Shore Community College jazz and concert band, the Manistee Civic Band, Ludington Civic Band and the Muskegon Youth Symphony.

Thomas was accepted to the School of Music at Western Michigan University and is studying with the Assistant Professor of Music and Tuba Professor Deanna Swoboda at Western Michigan University.