Three high school students and two middle school students have won full scholarships to attend the Cole Family Summer Music Festival at Southwestern College June 6-11.

“On February 16, pianists, vocalists, and instrumentalists performed solo repertoire for a chance to win a full tuition scholarship, half tuition scholarship, or $100 tuition award to attend the 2016 Cole Family Summer Music Festival,” says Tim Shook, chair for the division of performing arts at Southwestern College.  “Twenty students performed in Richardson Performing Arts Center and Messenger Recital Hall.  Additionally, on March 5, 14 students performed for a chance to perform a concerto with the South Kansas Symphony and win one of these scholarships.”

The following students received full tuition scholarships (the names of the students’ instructors are in parentheses): Avery Givens, Arkansas City Middle School (Hans Judd); Leah Wise, Derby North Middle School (Gray Bishop); Thomas Mondry, Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School (Brian Miller); Aidan Wells Filbert, Wichita East High School (Eric Crawford); and Victoria Peavey, Wichita Northwest High School (Amy Brown).

Half tuition scholarships were awarded to: Sam Ross, Winfield High School (Paige Camp); Cooper Dennett, Central of Burden High School (Jayme Hayes); Briley Lewis, Maize High School (Bryan Kirk); and Lindsey Bergner, Pratt High School (Peter Weinert). 

$100 tuition awards went to: Marlie Dennett, Central of Burden High School (Jayme Hayes); Caroline Jiang, Wichita Independent Middle School (Joe Clements); Bryan Jiang, Wichita East High School (Miranda Wilson); and Caleb Renner, Inman High School (Ben Scheirling).  
In addition, Mondry was the South Kansas Symphony Concerto Competition winner followed by Wells Filbert and Renner. 

The Cole Family Summer Music Festival is a six-day camp held at Southwestern College.  Campers study with college faculty while developing music skills in four areas of emphasis: choir, orchestra, piano, or band. Through the generous support of musician and former Southwestern College trustee Dr. George Cole, all students receive aid to attend, thus lowering the cost of tuition to $375 for overnight campers and $300 for day campers. Additional scholarship aid based on need and merit is also available.

Registration for the camp is open until May 15. For more information go to http://www.sckans.edu/other/summer-music-festival/.