The Nancy F. Walker Scholarships for
Classical Vocal and
Instrumental Students
Nancy F. Walker Scholarship
2022 WINNERS
This year, students from five colleges and public, private, and home schools representing seven area counties applied. The students submitted YouTube video auditions, and selected applicants were invited to perform in person. They were adjudicated by highly qualified, distinguished judges who assigned scores and provided comments.
High School Instrumental
1st Place Maxwell Fairman, violin
2nd Place Ari Webb, cello
3rd Place Inesh Loka, piano
Encouragement Award Loxea Hipsky, viola
High School Vocal
1st Place Ella Vaughn, soprano
2nd Place Claire Hardek, soprano
3rd Place Molly Chun, soprano
Encouragement Award Nick Gundrum, baritone
Encouragement Award Luke Randazzo, baritone
College Instrumental
1st Place Nicholas Tsang, cello
2nd Place Layang Ka, violin
3rd Place Zhouyang Shao, piano
Encouragement Award Jordan Watt, viola
Encouragement Award Emily Foster, piano
College Vocal
1st Place Cora-Melin Mikat, soprano
2nd Place Carolina Sullivan, soprano
3rd Place Matthew Goodheart, tenor
Encouragement Award Lauren Maynus, soprano
Encouragement Award Matilda Smolij, mezzo
Instrumental Judges
J.R. Cassidy – Conductor, Music Director of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Dale Swisher – violinist and conductor; Anderson High School orchestra teacher for 20+ years, retired CSYO conductor and past director of the XU Chamber orchestra and the Blue Ash Youth Symphony Orchestra
Siok Lian Tan – head of piano studies at Miami University (OH), PhD in piano from CCM, international recitalist and clinician
Vocal Judges
Cynthia Lawrence – soprano, Endowed Chair of voice/opera at the University of Kentucky, Professor of voice, KY Regional NATS audition chair, KY NATS secretary; international opera career.
Morgan Smith – operatic baritone, one of the most prolific performers of modern operatic repertoire in the world; has also earned universal praise for performances in traditional repertoire.
Mary Henderson Stucky – Professor Emerita of Voice at the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati; sang opera, oratorio and recitals throughout Europe and the US.
Nancy Fuldner Walker, memorialized by these scholarships, was a musician, music teacher and strong advocate for all music and arts organizations. She provided able leadership to Matinée Musicale for more than four decades before her death in October 2017. Matinée Musicale Cincinnati honors her legacy of support and encouragement of young musicians through these scholarships.
*ELIGIBILITY
Students who reside or attend school in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana are eligible to receive scholarships.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Nancy Bailey at scholarships@matineemusicalecincinnati.org or by phone at 859-781-0801.
