Talent show to honor scholarship winners

The Woodstock Fine Arts Association will honor the recipients of the 2009 Scholarships with a Talent Showcase performance at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 22 at the Woodstock Opera House.

This outstanding program is free to the public and will include performances by past scholarship winners including Kurt Carlson, vocalist, and Stacey Weidner, pianist.

A special performance will be given by Kirsten Leslie, a former scholarship recipient, who has received numerous honors for her performances in both Opera and Musical Theater along with performances at Carnegie Hall. She has also performed extensively in Europe and has toured as a soloist throughout Italy, Holland, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Recipients of 2009 Helen Wright Scholarship are: Jacob Guzan, artist, Marian Central High School in Woodstock; Vanessa Kaszubowski, flutist and vocalist, McHenry West High School; Rachel Meyer, vocalist, McHenry East High School; Doug Schneider, saxophonist, Johnsburg High School; and Sarah Swenson, artist, Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake.

The recipient of the first Val Gitlin Charitable Trust Scholarship is Courtney Chaffins clarinetist, from Marian Central High School.

A reception will be held for the performers and recipients following the program.

For more information about this free performance or membership in the Woodstock Fine Arts Association, contact Carolyn Cox at (815) 790-1073.