The Nancy F. Walker Scholarships for
Classical Vocal and
Instrumental Students
Nancy F. Walker Scholarship
2024 WINNERS
Matinée Musicale Cincinnati Awards $53,500 in Scholarships!
Now in Its Seventh Year!
Top Award winners will perform on
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024
for the Scholarship Recital and Luncheon at
Greenacres Arts Center, 8400 Blome Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45243
The seventh annual Nancy F. Walker Memorial Scholarship competition for classical instrumental and vocal students was held at the Anderson Hills Church in February. A total of $53,500 was awarded to juniors and seniors in high school and college from 6 counties, representing 37 different teachers, 3 colleges, 14 high schools, and homeschools. Auditions were adjudicated by highly qualified, distinguished judges, who also provided comments which were shared with individual students.
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 Cincinnati for more than four decades before her death in 2017. Matinée Musicale Cincinnati is honoring her legacy of support and encouragement of young musicians through these scholarships.
High School Instrumental Winners
1st - Erica Nam - violin; Kurt Sassmannshaus, teacher
2nd - Keliang Yao - piano; Logan Skelton, teacher
3rd - Anthony Dorsey - violin; Kurt Sassmannshaus, teacher
Encouragement Award - Kaede Suzuki, piano; Jackson Leung, teacher
Encouragement Award - Vivian Chang, violin; Hong Cheng, teacher
High School Vocal Winners
1st - Ella Clark – mezzo-soprano; Talia Zoll, teacher
2nd - Natalie Marshall - soprano; Catherine Keen, teacher
3rd - Evan Stuart - baritone; Catherine Keen, teacher
Encouragement Award - Makenna Peterson, soprano; Kim Buczek, teacher
Encouragement Award - Catherine Mazzella - soprano; Melanie Woodruff, teacher
College Instrumental Winners
1st - Abigail Leidy - cello; Alan Rafferty, teacher
2nd – Vera Tianyi Lu - piano; Polina Bespalko, teacher
3rd – Chang Lu - piano; Sara Daneshpour, teacher
Encouragement Award - Ava Shedd, violin; Won-Bin Yim, teacher
Encouragement Award - Madeline Arney, harp; Gillian Sella, teacher
College Vocal Winners
1st – Léa Nayak - soprano; Gwen Coleman, teacher
2nd - Natalie Corrigan – mezzo-soprano; Amy Johnson, teacher
3rd – Eric Riedel - tenor; Alison Acord, teacher
Encouragement Award - Lauren Albano - soprano; Stuart Skelton, teacher
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
May Phang - Professor of Piano at Depauw University, performs internationally, presents Master classes nationally and internationally, artist faculty at Interharmony International Music Festival in Italy and Germany, frequently adjudicates competitions
VOCAL JUDGES
Mark Calkins - Berea College, past president of Ky NATS, teaches master classes in opera internationally
Edith Davis Tidwell - Distinguished Professor at U of L, performed with New York City Opera for seven seasons and with orchestras and opera companies throughout the US, Canada and Great Britain
Dr Scott Wyatt - has sung with orchestras and opera companies internationally, Professor of Voice at CCM, Xavier University, NKU, Florida College and Cincinnati Christian University, experienced judge at NATS competitions
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.
