Schaumburg Youth Orchestra musicians earn scholarships

Seventeen young musicians representing the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra program were awarded scholarships by the village president and board of trustees at the recent Schaumburg village board meeting.

Scholarships were awarded to Emily Andrew and Tyler Hansen of Arlington Heights; Caitlin Cadwalder of Des Plaines; Makiba Kurita of Elk Grove Village; Barrett Kaufman, Zachary Kaufman and Nicholas Plewtong of Lake Zurich; Eric Wood of Mount Prospect; Ann Rajan of Palatine; Anna Jarratt of Round Lake Beach; and Tess Miller, Daniel O’Dette, Anthony Preucil and Danny Vook of Schaumburg.

In addition, special scholarships in the amount of $500 each were awarded to three graduating seniors, based on the applicants’ musicianship, contributions to music, and character. Presented by the Prairie Center Arts Foundation, the Ruth Park Scholarship, named for longtime Prairie Center patron and foundation board member, was awarded to flutist, Theresa Vargas. The Leo Chan Alumni Scholarship was presented to violist Evangelia Pagones, and the Kelliher–Lawless Scholarship, underwritten and awarded by Schaumburg Trustee George Dunham, was presented to outstanding brass player, Jacob VanDerBleek, who plays the tuba. Trustee Dunham named the scholarship after his junior high and high school band directors in Tulsa, Okla., one of whom later founded and developed the “Young Tulsan” music organization that operated somewhat like SYO does today.

Dunham was motivated to give the award by former SYO musician, Leo Chan. He had wanted for years to give something back to music education, and felt this year was the right time. He intends to continue giving the award for at least the next three years of his current term.

Dunham first played sousaphone and later trombone in junior high and high school. Trombone remains his favorite instrument, but he likes anything brass.

Leo Chan was a member of SYO for many years. In his senior year he was awarded the foundation’s senior scholarship. After he finished college, he came back because SYO had been important to him for many years and he wanted to give back to the program by creating the senior scholarship for others who came after him.

Now celebrating its 24th season, the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra annually attracts more than 200 young players from throughout the Northwest suburbs. Since being inaugurated in 2000, the village of Schaumburg/Schaumburg Youth Orchestra Scholarship Program has awarded funding to over 140 musicians. Scholarships have been used to support music lessons, instrument rental or purchase, music camps, private instruction, and SYO tuition.

For information about the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra program, contact Rob Pileckis, production supervisor, at rpileckis@ci.schaumburg.il.us or (847) 923-3607.

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