Fox Valley artists win scholarships

Fox Valley Beaux Arts recently showcased its 2011 scholarship winners at Villa Olivia Country Club in Bartlett. For more than 25 years Beaux Arts has supported the arts in the Fox Valley area which includes Elgin and the surrounding communities. The nonprofit organization awards scholarships to high school seniors who have demonstrated the ability and desire to pursue careers in the visual and performing arts.

Barb McGee, scholarship chairwoman, announced the five high school graduating seniors who were recipients of this year’s scholarship fund. Each student entertained Beaux Arts members with an outstanding presentation or performance of their talent.

Ÿ Clee McCracken entered the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Larkin High School in Elgin as a freshman and has excelled as a vocal student. He was selected as an All-State Singer last year. Most recently, he was a first-place winner in the Elgin Talent Contest. Clee performed several selections from his repertoire. His performances include IHSA solo and ensemble, featured VPAA soloist, and national anthem soloist. Academically, Clee was named as an Illinois State Scholar.

Ÿ Jill Murphy came up through the ranks of the Elgin Children’s Chorus before being accepted to the Vocal Academy at Elgin High School. In addition to being talented in voice and music, she excels in a wide variety of academic areas and is a member of the National Honor Society. Jill is the lead singer of her church youth band and sings in the choir. She has performed school musicals for four years, and in 2011 she was the female lead as Belle in the production of “Beauty and the Beast” She plans to study musical theater at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Ÿ Francis Landoy, a graduate of St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin, is an accomplished pianist who performed varied styles of music from the classics to modern and contemporary. He has competed in multiple state, regional and national competitions across the U.S. and Canada, and in 2007 placed fourth in the all-around division of the American Guild of Music National Competition in Chicago. As an actor, he has performed major roles and was chosen Best Supporting Actor for his work in “The Enchanted” and “Grease.” He was cast in leading roles in “The Beauty Part” and “Godspell.” Francis is a member of the National Honor society and will be attending Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Ÿ Paulina Nava, a graduate of Larkin High School and the Visual and Performing Arts Drama Academy (Honors), is a gifted poet, creative writer and performer of poems and plays, and story teller, many of which she writes. Paulina performed several dramatic readings and delighted the audience with the creative performance of her own work “Duct Tape.” She was inducted into the International Thespian Society for her performances in numerous roles from one-act plays to musical productions. Paulina will be attending DePaul University in Chicago.

Ÿ Brittany Lundgren, a graduate of Larkin High School and the Visual and Performing Arts Drama Academy, was also accepted into the International Thespian Society in 2011. Her talent in the theater is in multiple areas, including improvisation, monologues, duet scenes, comedy, musical theater, puppets, as well as stage and costume design, stage makeup, editing and filming videos, and most recently directing. Brittany engaged the audience for subject suggestions and performed mime and improvisation. She will be attending Loyola University in Chicago.