Scholarship History
In 1958, the group awarded its first scholarship established by the Willard (Bill) Neely Family. Their $500 annual gift supported both the Musichorale Vocal Competition for adults and the Arts Cup winners from our children's chorus, the Musichorale Miniatures. Mrs. Elaine Neely was the Charter Treasurer of the Miniatures. After Mrs. Neely's tragic death in an auto accident, the fund was renamed in her honor.
After nearly 35 years, The Elaine Neely Memorial Scholarship Fund began to be funded by Mrs. Helen Recktenwald, in honor of her brother, Frank Stehlik. Frank was a 25-year tenor with the chorus. The fund was again renamed, becoming the Frank Stehlik Memorial Scholarship Fund. Since Mrs. Recktenwald's passing in 2009, the name has reverted back to simply, the Musichorale Scholarship Fund. It is currently funded through gifts to the Annual Fund, the Art Silhan Memorial Golf Outing, and an annual gift of $500 from Ms. Bonnie Tarry.
Each year the talented 1st place winners perform at the Musichorale concerts.
2017 Scholarship Award Winners
Instrumental Scholarship March 2017
First place: Nicole Tong, violinist, is a high school freshman from Lisle
Second place:Kaitlyn Yi, harpist, a high school sophomore from Orland Park
Third place: high school junior, John Cao, a pianist from Arlington Heights
Honorable Mentions: Honorable Mentions were awarded to high school junior, Michelle Manson, a violinist from Monee; pianist' Mia Chen, a 7th grader from Downers Grove; violinist, Zechariah Mo, a high school freshman from Rolling Meadows; violinist, Adele Lee, a high school sophomore from Buffalo Grove; 7th grader Claire Metcalf, a violinist from Schaumburg; violinist, Justin Lee, a high school junior from Buffalo Grove; and violinist, Claire Arias-Kim, a high school sophomore from Hoffman Estates.
2016 Scholarship Award Winners
Instrumental Scholarship March 2016
First place: Nathan Mo, a high school junior from Rolling Meadows
Second place: Zheko Nedev, an 8th grader from Hoffman Estates
Third place: Ameilia Korbitz, a high school freshman from Woodridge
2015 Scholarship Award Winners
Vocal Scholarship October 2015
First place: Agne Giedraityte, Age 13, 8th Grade, Eisenhower Jr High, Downers Grove, IL
Second place: Caitlin Hennessy, Age 17, Grade 12, Mother McAuley HS, Chicago
Third place: Taylor Moran, Age 17, Grade 12, Metea Valley HS, Aurora
Honorable Mentions for vocal go to:
Iva Galic, Age 13, 7th grade, Gemini Jr High and Shawna Lewis, Age 14, 9th grade, Shepard High School.
Thanks to all of the vocal contestants who participated in 2015.
Instrumental Scholarship February 2015
First place: John Heo, 8th grader from Northbrook
Second place: Tabby Rhee, high school junior from Brookfield, WI
Third place: Amelia Korbitz, an 8th grader from Woodridge
Honorable Mentions for the instrumental category were awarded to: high school sophomores, Michelle Jugovich, a harpist from Western Springs; and cellist, Seungmok Baek from Buffalo Grove; and high school freshman and violinist, Justin Lee also from Buffalo Grove.
Vocal Grade 6 - 12 Scholarship
Our winner was John Cortez, a local singer, who received his $1,000 1st prize award.
2014 Scholarship Winners
First place was awarded to violinist Julian Rhee.Second place went to harpist Michelle Jugovich from Western Springs, IL.
Third place place winner was pianist Mikowai Ashwill.
Honorable mentions were awarded to pianists Alexander Roe from Naperville and Emilia Topor from Chicago.
Past Winners
2013 Winners
Instrumental Scholarship Competition
First place: Monet Lee, Piano, High School
Second place: Silas Ferrao, Violin, High School Junior
Third place: Nivedita Ravi, High School
Honorable mention: Katie Gallagher, Michael Gans & Michelle Jugovich
Pictured above from left: Monet Lee (with Musichorale Director Jeffrey Silhan). Silas Ferrao, 2nd place; Nivedita Ravi, 3rd place (with Monet Lee)
Vocal Scholarship Competition
Regretfully, due to a lack of participation, the vocal competition had to be canceled.
2012 Winners
Instrumental Scholarship Competition
First place: Jonah White, Piano, High School Freshman
Second place: Annika Kulkarni, Piano, High School Freshman
Third place: Silas Ferrao, Violin, High School Sophomore
Honorable mention: Hannah White, Violin, 6th grade; Zuri Wells, Marimba, High School Senior; Timothy Fuqua, B flat clarinet, High School Junior
Pictured above from left: Jonah White, Annika Kulkarni, Silas Ferrao and Hannah White, Zuri Wells & Timothy Fuqua with Musichorale Director Jeffrey Silhan).
Vocal Scholarship Competition
First Place: Elisa Germond of Delphi, IN
2010 Winners
First place instrumental (grades 9-12) - Paul Juhn from Mundelein, Ill. Paul won as a 12th grader at Vernon Hills HS. He played Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 81a on piano.
Second place instrumental (grades 9-12) - Devon Naftzger.
First place instrumental (grades 1-8) - Serena Harnack. Interesting tidbit about Serena -- this was her 3rd year competing. She took 3rd place her first time, then 2nd and finally 1st. It's exactly what we tell the kids -- keep coming back, keep trying and you might just win!!!
Pictured above from left: Paul Juhn, Devon Naftzger and Serena Harnack. (Paul and Devon with Musichorale Director Jeffrey Silhan).
2009 Winners
Musichorale held its 47th annual scholarship contest on Saturday, February 28, 2009. Two instrumental contests and one vocal contest were conducted.
Placing first in the junior instrumental contest was Michelle Park of Itasca. Michelle is a violin student. She has been studying for eight years at the Betty Haag Academy of Music. Michelle is a 7th grader at Peacock Middle School.
The first place winner of the vocal contest was Francesco Castaldi, age 18 of Wheeling. Francesco is a senior at St. Viator High school. Francesco is active in his school choir and has also been taking private lessons for seven years under the instruction of Jina Varis. Francesco is currently auditioning at various colleges and intends to continue his musical education.
Kiyoshi Hayashi, age 15, placed first in the senior instrumental contest. Kiyoshi is a violin student. He has been studying for eight years at the Western Springs School of Talent Education. Kiyoshi is a freshman at Oak Park River Forest High School.
All first place winners will receive a $500 cash award for the continuation of their musical education. Each will also perform as a special guest at Musichorale's Spring Concert on Sunday, April 19, 2009, or the Christmas Noel program in December. These two presentations will be held in the Ozinga Chapel Auditorium of Trinity College in Palos Heights.
Second and third place winners also received a cash award of $200 and $100, respectively.
Pictured above with Musichorale Director Jeffrey Silhan, clockwise from top left: Michelle Park, Francesco Castaldi, and Kiyoshi Hayashi
2008 Winners
Musichorale held its 46th annual scholarship contest on Saturday, February 23rd. Two instrumental contests and one vocal contest were conducted. Following are the first place winners of the individual contests.
Luke Harvey, age 14, placed first in the senior instrumental contest. Luke is a piano student of Ludka Derka of Indian Head Park. His selections were The Cat and the Mouse by Aaron Copland and Chopin's Etude #12. The Harvey family reside in Cedar Lake, Indiana, and Luke attends Lowell High School.
Placing first in the junior instrumental contest was Maria Yeh of Palatine. Maria is a student of the Betty Haag Academy in Arlington Heights. Her selections for the contest were Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso and Sonate by Mozart. Maria is a 6th grader at Pleasant Hill School.
The first place winner of the vocal contest was Kate Rozycki, age 17, of LaGrange. Kate attends Lyons Township High School where she has been taking lessons and is also a private student of Mrs. Becky Moan. The two selections sung by Kate were None But the Lonely Heart by Tchaikovsky and Take Me To the World by Sondheim. An honor roll student, Kate is also interested in theatre, both as a performer and in other backstage functions.
All first place winners will receive a $500 cash award for the continuation of their musical education. Each will also perform as a special guest at Musichorale's Spring Concert on Sunday, April 20th or the Christmas Noel program on December 14th. These two presentations will be held in the Ozinga Chapel Auditorium of Trinity College in Palos Heights.
Second and third place winners also received a cash award of $200 and $100, respectively.
Pictured above, clockwise from top left: Luke Harvey, Kate Rozycki, and Maria Yeh
2007 Winners
Ethan Young, age 16, won the first place award in Musichorale's 45th Scholarship Contest for instrumentalists in grades nine through twelve. Ethan, a junior at Oswego High School, performed the 1st Movement of Saint Saens Concerto No. 1 and the Allemande from the Second Suite by J.S. Bach on the cello which he has been studying for eleven years. Ethan has been taking private lessons from Andrea LaFranzo of North Aurora. He resides with his parents in Oswego, Illinois.
George Hyun, age 14, placed first in the instrumentalists grades one thru eight division of Musichorale's 45th Scholarship Contest. George is an eight grade at Washburne Junior High and resides with his parents in Winnetka, Illinois. George has studied the violin for ten years at the Betty Haag Academy. His selection for the contest was Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole.
Both first place winners won a monetary prize of $500 to continue their music education. Both Ethan and George performed Musichorale concerts.
Pictured from left: Ethan Young and George Hyun
