The Nancy F. Walker Scholarships
for Western Classical
Vocal and Instrumental Students
SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS 2026
COLLEGE AWARDS
1st: $10,000
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $3,000
$500 Encouragement Awards
HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS
1st: $4,000
2nd: $2,000
3rd: $1,000
$500 Encouragement Awards
ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS!
High School Instrumental
First Place: Autumn Rinaldi, Cello
Second Place: Sophia Suwiryo, Piano
Third Place: Becket Ceron, Guitar
Encouragement Awards: George Kaiser, Tuba, and Cecelia Lehmann, Violin
College Instrumental
First Place: Juliana Matteo, Harp
Second Place: Krish Subramanian, Cello
Third Place: Jamie Clark, Cello
Encouragement Awards: Elliott Watras, Cello, and Ruike Yang, Violin
High School Voice
First Place: William Wittekind, Baritone
Second Place: Ray Muenzer, Tenor
Third Place: Marin Elyse Longbottom, Soprano
Encouragement Awards: Genevieve Howard, Soprano, and Kiersten Bennett, Mezzo
College Voice
First Place: Ella Clark, Mezzo
Second Place: Jack Bunch, Tenor
Third Place: Ayan Yacob, Soprano
Encouragement Awards: Noyi Soto Anglade, Baritone, and Sara Springett, Soprano
The Nancy F. Walker Memorial Scholarship Competition for Western Classical instrumental and vocal students has been held annually since 2018.
ELIGIBILITY:
High School Juniors and Seniors
College Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors
Must be residents in:
- Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio;
- Dearborn County in Indiana;
- Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties in Kentucky.
AUDITION INFORMATION:
- Qualifying candidates were notified by Sunday, January 11, 2026
- Auditions were held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Top Award Winners will perform at 11 am on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 for the Scholarship Recital and Luncheon at Greenacres Arts Center, 8400 Blome Rd, Indian Hill, Cincinnati, OH 45243. Only members, subscribers and guests will be invited to attend.
Auditions are adjudicated by highly qualified, distinguished judges, who also provide comments which are shared with individual students.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Jane Copper-Short at matineemusicalescholarships@gmail.com
Click below to see our past winners!
News of Past Winners
Our 1st Place 2021 Scholarship College Winner, Matthew Goodheart, has been signed as an artist with Michael Benchetrit's Minerva Artists Agency in New York! This is the agency that also manages some pretty terrific singers like Jamie Barton and Nicole Cabell.
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.
