UK's Best Student Musicians, Vocalists Recognized

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 16, 2011) − Twenty-nine of the University of Kentucky School of Music's best and brightest students were recognized at this year's McCracken Awards and Honors Ceremony held April 28, 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 this year. 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:

• Yunjung Lee, a music performance sophomore and violinist from Seoul, Korea, the recipient of the McCracken Theory Scholarship for exceptional achievement in music theory;
• Megan Lineberry, a music education senior and violinist from St. Augustine, Fla., the recipient of the McCracken Musicology Scholarship for exceptional achievement in music history;
• Kristen Kline, a graduate student from Lexington, recipient of the McCracken Music Ed Scholarship for exceptional achievement in music education;
• Ryles Kjellsen, a music education senior and euphonium player from Richmond, Ky., a recipient of the McCracken Performance Scholarship for exceptional achievement in the Winds, Percussion and Jazz Division; and
• Lydia Kabalen, a music performance senior and violinist from Lexington, recipient of the McCracken Performance Scholarship for exceptional achievement in the Keyboard, Voice and Strings Division.

Ralph McCracken's daughter Margaret was in attendance at this year's awards program to help recognize the winners.

Two pianists were selected to receive the 2011 Jean Marie McConnell Chrisman Memorial Piano Scholarship, a piano scholarship endowed by Norman Chrisman, Jean Marie’s husband, in her memory. The $1,000 scholarships go to individuals who exemplify 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. This year's recipients of the Chrisman Scholarships are music performance freshman Robert Bosworth, of Frankfort, Ky., and music education junior Nicola Rohr, of Georgetown, Ky.

Seunghee Lee, a doctoral candidate from Seoul, Korea, 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.

DeLise Graham-Hill, a doctoral candidate from Midway, Ky., 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 Francis Arnold South Award was presented to Rebecca Farley, a music performance junior and vocalist from Henderson, Ky. The $1,000 scholarship is presented in recognition of exceptional achievement in vocal performance.

Mark Kano, a doctoral candidate and vocalist from Murfreesboro, Tenn., was chosen as the recipient of the Phyllis Jenness Vocal Scholarship. 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.

The Adele Headley Dailey Award was presented to music senior and violinist Erin Jackson from Lexington, Ky. This award is presented in memory of a former music librarian at UK School of Music. The $500 cash award is made possible by a group of private donors.

Emma Moore, a music education junior and vocalist from Danville, Ky., 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 who 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.

Music education senior and bassoonist Holly Smith, of Custer, S.D., is the recipient of the George Hurst Scholarship. The $500 award is presented to a junior or senior who 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.

Rob Barnes is the recipient of the John Barnes Chance Memorial Scholarship. A string bass player, Barnes is a music performance and pre-arts administration freshman from Frankfort. The $500 award recognizes a student for exceptional achievement in music composition. The Chance Scholarship was endowed by friends and colleagues 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 Raechel White for exceptional achievement in oboe performance. The music freshman from Richmond, will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Struttman Scholarship was made possible through an endowment started by friends, many colleagues in the Lexington Community Orchestra, in memory of Lynn Markowitz Struttman.

Music education senior and vocalist Kelsey Edelen, of Crestwood, Ky., is the recipient of the new Rita Lam Award. The Lam Award recognizes excellence in music and carries a $500 award. Lam was a long time supporter of the UK School of Music and served the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity by directing the Bold Note Project and serving as a music braille transcriber for Kentucky.

Lee Spoonamore, a secondary science education sophomore from Danville, 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.

Amy Blankenship 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. Blankenship, a junior from Erlanger, Ky., is pursuing majors in management and marketing and a minor in music performance.

Two new awards were presented at the award program to talented percussionists. The James B. Campbell Award, named for the director of percussion studies at UK, recognizes exceptional achievement in performance and service to the UK percussion program. The 2011 Campbell Award winner is Matt Geiger, a percussionist and music performance and mathematics senior from Indianapolis, Ind. As a recipient of this award, Geiger received a $1,500 scholarship.

Kelsey Moorhouse, a music performance freshman and percussionist from Buford, Ga., won another new percussion award introduced at this year's program. The 2011 Elaine Gould Award honors a freshman that demonstrates exceptional achievement in performance and service to the UK percussion program. The $250 award is given in memory of the mother of UK alumnus Michael Gould.

Don Lafleur and Will Stafford are this year's recipients of the Thelma Green Scholarship and Flossie Minter Green Scholarship respectively. The $1,500 awards are presented to music students who demonstrate potential for academic excellence and exceptional achievement in music. The scholarships were endowed by Paul Green in memory of his wives Flossie, and later Thelma, at their deaths. Lafleur is a music performance senior and trumpet player from Lexington. Stafford is a music and music education senior from Blairsville, Ga.

Four UK students received the Jane Lee Forrest Scholarship, which recognizes exceptional achievement in music. The four $500 scholarships are made possible by an endowment in memory of Forrest, a long-time secretary in the UK School of Music. This year's recipients of the Forrest Scholarship are:

• Christina Camardo, a clarinet player and music education junior from Fairfield, Ohio;
• Mary-Hollis Hundley, an arts administration senior with a minor in music performance from Louisville, Ky.;
• David Hutter, a percussionist and music education senior from St. Charles, Ill.; and
• Mary Mattox, a viola player and psychology and music senior from Mt. Sterling, Ky.

The Friends of Music Scholarship was presented to Jessica Long, a music performance senior and French horn player from Hebron, Ky. 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.

Tyler Cantrell, a music education senior and percussionist from Mayfield, Ky., was the recipient of two awards at the scholarship program. Cantrell received the Adrian Jones Percussion Scholarship, named for a UK percussion graduate. This $250 award is presented by the UK Percussion Society in recognition of leadership and service in percussion performance. In addition, Cantrell was also the recipient of the school's largest music scholarship, the O. Helton Memorial Acres Scholarship, recognizing exceptional achievement in music. 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.

To see pictures of the McCracken Awards and Honors Ceremony, including photos of many of the winners, visit the university's Flickr page at: www.flickr.com/photos/universityofkentucky/sets/72157626530956783/with/5690935275.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-1754 ext. 229; Whitney.Hale@uky.edu