SRU students singing for scholarships at Williamson Memorial competition, Oct. 30

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Chad Williamson Scholarship graphic

Slippery Rock University will host the 29th annual Chad Williamson Memorial Vocal Scholarship competition, 4 p.m., Oct. 30, at the Swope Music Hall.

Oct. 25, 2021

SLIPPERY ROCK Pa. — Twenty-six Slippery Rock University students will compete in SRU's 29th annual Chad Williamson Memorial Vocal Scholarship competition, 4 p.m., Oct. 30, at Swope Music Hall. Each student will present two selections, a classical piece and a piece of their choosing, and the first-, second- and third-place winners will receive scholarships of $750, $500 and $250, respectively.

The scholarship honors the late Chad Williamson, a Slippery Rock Area High School graduate who planned to study music at SRU but was killed in a traffic accident prior to his freshman year. Williamson's mother, Karen Legato, a 1991 SRU communication graduate and former SRU employee, and father, the late Fred Williamson, started the scholarship in 1992.

Chad Williamson

   CHAD WILLIAMSON

"This event gives students a goal to work toward and it raises their performance and technical levels of singing so they can be the best they can be," said Colleen Gray, professor of music and department chair. "This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students and showcase their skills, and it's also a wonderful way to remember a young man who was supposed to be a voice major here. Through this event, he is memorialized and his legacy lives on, and I know the students feel a sense of pride in honoring him." 

Judging the competition will be Hope Koehler, a professor of voice at West Virginia University who is a regular performer and featured soloist with the renowned American Spiritual Ensemble. The pianist for the competition is James Lesniak of the Pittsburgh Opera, who has served as a coach and accompanist for SRU vocal students for more than a decade. Colleen Saunders, a senior music therapy major from Severna Park, Maryland, will also provide piano accompaniment for selected competitors.

Student performers and their selections are:

  • Jaina Bowmer, a sophomore music therapy major from Stoneboro, will perform "Bel Piacere" and "Here Amid the Shady Woods."
  • Leah Buczek, a junior vocal performance major from New Castle, will perform "Fair Robin I Love" and "Ach, ich fühl's."
  • Aaron Caplea, a sophomore dual music education and music performance major from Ebensburg, will perform "Oh, better far to live and die" and
  • "Widmung."
  • Joshua Crooks, a junior music performance major from Pittsburgh, will perform "Diggi, daggi" and "O del mio amato ben."
  • Angela Deyarmin, a sophomore music therapy major from Blairsville, will perform "Morgen!" and "Art Is Calling for Me."
  • Hannah D'Egidio, a senior music education major from Industry, will perform "Voi, che sapete," and "Ouvre ton coeur."
  • Zack Esch, a sophomore music education major from Pittsburgh, will perform "Non t'amo più!" and "Chanson d'amour." 
  • Emma Flaherty, a senior music therapy major from Churchville, New York, will perform "À Chlois" and "Sehnsucht."
  • Andrew Gritters, a sophomore music education major, Lakeville, New York, will perform "Lydia" and "The Dodger." 
  • Rachel Heck, a senior music performance major from Cranesville, will perform "Lucy's Aria," and "Kling!" 
  • Emma Hicks, a freshman music performance major from Pittsburgh, will perform "Pierrot" and "Se ardire e speranza." 
  • Benjamin Jamison, a junior music education major from Evans City, will perform "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja," and "Come Away, Come Away, Death." 
  • Haven Joseph-Lyon, a sophomore music education major from Sewickley, will perform "Non m'ami piu" and "Du bist die Ruh."
  • Shaun Klein, a senior music education major from East Brady, will perform "The trumpet shall sound" and "O du, mein holder Abendstern."
  • Ashley Loss, a sophomore dual music therapy and psychology major from Montoursville, will perform "When I Have Sung My Songs" and "Solvejg's Song."
  • Lindsay Malloy, a junior music therapy major from Beaver, will perform "Du meines Herzens Krönelein" and "Le Violette." 
  • Isabella Marchionte, a sophomore music therapy major from Niles, Ohio, will perform "Love is a Plaintive Song" and "La Speranza e Giunta."
  • Paige Mitsko, a sophomore music major from Indiana, will perform "Makin' Whoopee" and "Lachen und Weinen."
  • Julia Pokora, a junior music therapy major from Pittsburgh, will perform "Will There Really Be a Morning?" and "Als Luise die Briefe."
  • Elizabeth Saver, a senior music major from Clarion, will perform "Morgenständchen" and "Willow Song." 
  • Allegra Schnitzel, a senior music therapy major from Roslyn, will perform "Silent Noon" and "Cockeyed Optimist." 
  • Gabrielle Spence, a senior music therapy major from Penn Hills, will perform "Toothbrush Time" and "Si mes vers avaient des ailes." 
  • Claire Toth, a junior music education major from Pulaski, will perform "Vedrai, carino" and "Nuit d'etoiles."
  • Devon Vanasco, a sophomore dual music education and music performance major from New Castle, will perform "Ten Thousand Miles Away" and "Si mes vers avaient des ailes."
  • Savannah Wesolowski, a senior music performance major from Pittsburgh, will perform "Anne Boleyn" and "Il tramonto." 
  • Elizabeth Wingard, a sophomore music therapy major from Brookville, will perform "Quella Fiamma" and "Evensong." 

The event is free and open to the public. More information about the SRU music programs is available on the department's webpage.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 |  justin.zackal@sru.edu

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