UK's Best Student Musicians Recognized

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2010) − Twenty-two of the University of Kentucky's best and brightest music students were recognized at this year's McCracken Awards and Honors Ceremony held April 29, at the Hilary J. Boone Center. The McCracken awards program was named for musician and UK School of Music patron Emily Scott McCracken.

Five Ralph McCracken Scholarships were presented at the School of Music awards program. Each scholarship carries a $1,000 award. The McCracken family initiated the first UK School of Music endowed scholarships in the 1950s. Ralph was the son of the initial donor, Emily Scott McCracken. This year's McCracken Scholarship winners are:
 

- Daniel Arnold, a music senior and pianist from Lexington, the recipient of the McCracken Theory Scholarship for exceptional achievement in music theory;
- Don LaFleur, a trumpet music performance junior from Lexington, the recipient of the McCracken Musicology Scholarship for exceptional achievement in music history; - Marcie Wright, a music education junior and vocalist from Shelbyville, Ky., recipient of the McCracken Music Ed Scholarship for exceptional achievement in music education; - Andrew Jarvis, a percussion music education senior from Lexington, a recipient of the McCracken Performance Scholarship for exceptional achievement in the Winds, Percussion and Jazz Division; and  - Leigh Dixon, a viola music performance freshman from Louisville, recipient of the McCracken Performance Scholarship for exceptional achievement in the Voice, Strings and Keyboard Division.

Ralph McCracken's daughters Francis and Margaret were in attendance at this year's awards program to help recognize the winners.

The O. Helton Memorial Acres Scholarship, recognizing exceptional achievement in music, was presented to Melanie Erena, a French horn music education and performance senior from Lexington. The $3,000 scholarship, which recognizes the accomplishments of an outstanding member of the School of Music student body, is made possible by an endowment created by the wife of Oscar Helton.

Laura Fallon, a senior music education major and violinist from Morris Plains, N.J., is the recipient of the Jane Lee Forrest Scholarship recognizing exceptional achievement in music. This scholarship worth $2,000 is made possible by an endowment in memory of Ms. Forrest, a long-time secretary in the UK School of Music.

Eldia Farias, a doctoral candidate from Brazil, is the recipient of the Jean Marie McConnell Chrisman Memorial Piano Scholarship, a piano scholarship endowed by Norman Chrisman, Jean Marie’s husband, in her memory. The $2,000 scholarship goes to an individual who exemplifies exceptional achievement in piano performance. Jean Marie was a music graduate of UK, a leading advocate of music and the arts in Kentucky and a member of the 12 person advisory group chosen to establish the UK Friends of Music in the 1990s.

Samantha Sizemore, a music performance graduate student from Whitesburg, Ky., is the winner of the Nathaniel Patch Piano Scholarship presented in memory of Nat Patch, a renowned pianist and member of the UK faculty from 1949 to his retirement in 1982. The Patch Piano Scholarship, created in memoriam at his death in 1998, carries an award of $500 and recognizes exceptional achievement in piano performance. Nat Patch's wife, Trudy, was in attendance to help recognize the scholarship winner.

The Phyllis Jenness Vocal Scholarship was presented to Holly Flack, a music performance graduate student from Portland, Ore. The scholarship is named for one of UK's most beloved voice teachers and opera directors, and the founder of the Lexington Singers. The $1,000 scholarship recognizes exceptional achievement in vocal performance. Jenness was on hand to congratulate Flack on her accomplishment. 

Lauren Collins, a music education junior and vocalist from Lexington, is the winner of the Mildred S. Lewis Music Education Scholarship, endowed by friends and former students of Lewis upon her death in the 1970s. The $1,000 Lewis Music Education Scholarship goes to an undergraduate that exemplifies exceptional achievement in music education. Lewis was director of the UK Choral Program, a nationally known music educator, and founder of the UK Choristers.

Brittany Ford, a music education senior and clarinetist from Vine Grove, Ky., is the recipient of the George Hurst Scholarship. The $500 award is presented to a junior or senior that exemplifies exceptional achievement in instrumental music education. The Hurst Scholarship was endowed by his many friends and customers. At the time of his death in the 1970s, Hurst was the owner and founder of George Hurst Music Company, still in operation today under owners who helped create the endowment.

The Francis Arnold South Award was presented to Katie Marsh, an international studies and music performance freshman from West Lafayette, Ind. The $1,000 scholarship is presented in recognition of exceptional achievement in vocal performance.

Christina Camardo and Aaron Sexton are the recipients of the Thelma Greene Scholarship and Flossie Minter Greene Scholarship respectively. The $1,000 awards are awarded to sophomores or juniors that demonstrate potential for academic excellence. The scholarships were endowed by Paul Greene in memory of his wives Flossie, and later Thelma, at their deaths. Camardo, a native of Fairfield, Ohio, is a music education sophomore who plays the clarinet. Sexton, a native of Lexington, is a music performance junior who plays the flute.

Seunghee Lee, a doctoral candidate from Seoul, South Korea, is the recipient of the Ford M. Montgomery Memorial Piano Scholarship. The scholarship carries a $400 award and recognizes exceptional achievement in piano performance. The Montgomery Scholarship was created in memory of the beloved piano professor who served UK many decades until his death in the early 1970s. 

The Adrian Jones Percussion Scholarship was presented to Alex Harmon, a music performance senior from Oblong, Ill. The $200 award is presented by the UK Percussion Society in recognition of leadership and service in percussion performance. The award is named for a UK percussion graduate.

Byron McChord is the recipient of the John Barnes Chance Memorial Scholarship. McChord is a music education senior and pianist from Lexington. The $500 award recognizes a student for exceptional achievement in music composition. The Chance Scholarship was endowed by friends and colleagues in of internationally known composer John Barnes Chance, a member of the UK Theory and Composition faculty until his accidental death in the early 1970s. 

Lynn Markowitz Struttman Scholarship in Oboe was awarded to Phil Smith for exceptional achievement in oboe performance. Smith, a native of Irvine, Ky., is a junior music education major. The $1,000 award was made possible through an endowment started by friends, many colleagues in the Lexington Community Orchestra, in memory of Lynn Markowitz Struttman.

Kristyn Brey, a junior nursing major from Hodgenville, Ky., is the recipient of the Tommy Sandusky Memorial Band Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship recognizes exceptional service in university bands. The Sandusky Scholarship was endowed as a memorial tribute to UK Marching Band trombonist Tommy Sandusky, a Somerset native, by his friends and colleagues.

Aaron Meacham is the recipient of the William Harry Clarke Alumni Band Scholarship, endowed by members of the UK band in honor of its former director. The $1,000 award recognizes exceptional service to university bands. Meacham, a senior from LaGrange, Ky., pursuing music and physics majors who plays the euphonium.

The Friends of Music Scholarship was presented to Megan Lineberry, a music education senior and violinist from St. Augustine, Fla. A $500 award, this honor is presented to a student with exceptional achievement in music by the School of Music support group, Friends of Music. Locals may also recognize Lineberry as the current reigning Miss Lexington.