Arts Alliance Awards Scholarships — June, 2010
The Monroe Arts Alliance has awarded its first three scholarships to Monroe County students under the newly created Arts Scholarship Program.
The first-ever scholarship has been awarded to Peter Soukup, for
advanced study in violin with Adam DeGraff, professional violinist,
leader of the popular "Pianafiddle" ensemble, and teacher in
Lewisburg, WV. Peter, age 12, has been studying with Mr. DeGraff
and others for five years and has become an accomplished player
and performer. He is a member of the Roanoke Youth Orchestra
and attends an Orchestra Camp in Virginia every year. Peter applied
for the scholarship "to help me mature as a violinist and expand my
musical experience from exclusively classical to a more broad
perspective."
Peter has performed at the Monroe Arts Alliance Holiday Concert in December for the last two years, and has given concerts at Carnegie Hall, local nursing homes, his church and other venues. He is the son of Mark and Ann Soukup of Gap Mills. "The Arts Alliance is pleased and proud to be able to support this very talented young man in pursuit of his passion," said Judith Bair, director. "We look forward to many years of pleasure from his performances."
The second and third scholarship awards were given to brothers
Nicholas and Harrison Norton for the study of fiddle and mandolin,
respectively. Nick, 11, and Harrison, 9, began their studies with
Chance McCoy. When McCoy moved from Greenville to Bland, Va., the
boys' parents, Jennifer and Nathaniel Norton of Lindside, WV,
searched for another instructor of his quality, and found Anna
Roberts-Gevalt, from Eggleston, Va, who performs with McCoy's
band. They were instrumental in bringing Anna to Monroe County to
teach what has grown to be a group of 9 young people at the Norton's
studio. Anna is an accomplished fiddler, guitarist, banjo and
mandolin player and has received many awards for her playing
and interest in old time mountain music and bluegrass.
Nicholas told the Arts Alliance "I picked the fiddle because I wanted a challenge, I wanted to find the sounds and notes by myself...When I play the fiddle, I feel like nothing else matters except having fun with my music."
Harrison chose the mandolin "because it sounds like the birds humming in the morning. This Christmas my brother and I played a concert for the family. We played 9 songs and got to show everyone how much we've learned and how much fun we are having."
"It will be exciting to see these young men progress in their skills and become part of a musical community," Bair commented. "The Nortons are to be commended for putting this opportunity together for so many students."
Scholarships for individual or group study in creative writing, visual arts, fine crafts, music, dance or theater are available through application to the Monroe Arts Alliance Arts Scholarship Program. The program is open to all Monroe County residents, regardless of age, with preference given to middle and high school students. Materials are available on the Web or by calling 304-772-4568.
This program is made possible through a grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, as well as through the generous support of Arts Alliance members and friends.