Nancy F. Walker Scholarship

2021 WINNERS

Matinée Musicale Cincinnati Awards $63,000 in Scholarships

Matinée Musicale Cincinnati is pleased to announce the results of its Fourth Annual Nancy F. Walker Memorial Scholarship Competition for classical instrumental and vocal students living or studying in the Greater Cincinnati area*. Due to continued pandemic restrictions, this is its second year as a virtual event. Building upon its success from last year, the 2021 competition awarded $63,000 in scholarships.

The competition was open to high school and college juniors and seniors. In a great response, students from five colleges and public, private, and home schools representing eight area counties applied. Students submitted YouTube video auditions which were adjudicated by highly qualified, distinguished judges, who assigned scores and provided comments.

High School Instrumental

1st Place:  Kasey Shao, piano; Ran Dank, teacher

2nd Place Tie: Loxea Hipsky, viola; Marion Peraza de Webb, teacher

Andrew Yang, violin; Won-Bin Yim, teacher

3rd Place 3-Way Tie: Daniel Dorsey, cello; Sarah Kim & Alan Rafferty, teachers

Arun Kamath, piano; Richard Van Dyke, teacher

Kate McGrath, harp; Gillian Sella, teacher

High School Vocal

1st Place Tie:  Claire Hardek, soprano; Kimberly Buczek, teacher

Maria Zierolf, soprano; Lincoln Chapman, teacher

2nd Place:  Luke Randazzo, baritone; Kathy Cammett, teacher

3rd Place:  Mary Wilkens, soprano; Melody Wallace, teacher

Encouragement Award:  Anna Berringer, soprano; Talia Zoll, teacher

College Instrumental

1st Place:  KayCee Galano, violin; Kurt Sassmannshaus, teacher

2nd Place:  Yang Gao, piano; Awadagin Pratt, teacher

3rd Place:  Emily Foster, piano; Dror Biran, teacher

Encouragement Awards:  Kasey Stokes, piano; Dror Biran, teacher

Gene Waldron, double bass; Robert Rohwer, teacher

College Vocal

1st Place:  Matthew Goodheart, tenor; Thomas Baresel, teacher

2nd Place:  Clara Reeves, soprano; Thomas Baresel, teacher

3rd Place Tie:  Sara Storm Hargrave, soprano; Amy Johnson, teacher

Nathaniel Wilkens, baritone; Alison Acord, teacher

Encouragement Award:  Anna Greco, soprano; Alison Acord, teacher

Instrumental Judges

J.R. Cassidy - Conductor, Music Director of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, which he envisioned and founded in 1992

Elisabeth Pridonoff - internationally known pianist and teacher; Professor Emerita of piano at CCM; still performing, adjudicating and offering master classes

Marie Speziale – first female trumpeter in a major symphony (CSO); remains active as a performer, teacher, clinician and adjudicator nationally and internationally

Vocal Judges

Everett McCorvey - tenor, Professor of voice, director and executive producer of the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre; has performed internationally with major opera companies

Cynthia Lawrence - soprano, Professor of voice, Endowed Chair of voice/opera at the University of Kentucky; has sung on five continents and is hailed as one of America’s most exciting singing actresses

Linda Snyder - Professor Emerita of voice and opera at the University of Dayton; has performed throughout the USA and Western Europe in recital, oratorio and opera/musical theater