Courtesy photos.
SANTA BARBARA — The Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of finalists for the 2023 vocalist and instrumentalist scholarship awards.
This year’s finalists for vocal performance are Nathan Carlin, a baritone attending Westmont College (teacher Bryan Lane); Lorenzo Johnson, Jr., a tenor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) (teacher Benjamin Brecher); Sibo Msibi, a tenor at Westmont College (teacher Nichole Dechaine); and Ariana Horner Sutherland, a soprano at UCSB (teacher Dr. Isabel Bayrakdarian).
Adult instrumentalist finalists are Cam Audras, a violist at UCSB (teacher Jonathan Moerschel); Sofia Malvinni, a violinist studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (teacher Simon James), and Ilana Shapiro, a flutist at Pomona College (teacher Catherine Ransom Karoly).
Junior instrumentalist finalists are Ellen Butler, a pianist attending San Marcos High School (teacher Dr. Natasha Kislenko); Holly Hadsall, also a pianist and student at San Marcos High School (teacher Dr. Pascal Solomon); Joey Malvinni, guitarist at Dos Pueblos High School (teacher Dr. David Malvinni), and Aidan Woodruff, cellist attending Santa Ynez High School (teacher Sarah Koo of the Colburn School of Performing Arts).
Each student will receive a financial award to support their continuing music studies. Auditions were held April 7 and 8. This year’s audition committee members were Deborah Bertling, Erin Bonski-Evans, Neil DiMaggio, and Kristine Pacheco-Bernt.
Established in 1982, the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation provides financial aid to deserving vocal and instrumental students in Santa Barbara County. The annual competition encourages young musicians to strive for excellence and supports them in their growth as performers. Scholarships are awarded primarily on the basis of talent and skill, but financial need is also considered. Applicants range in age from 16 to 29 and compete for scholarships amounting to more than $27,000.
— For more information about PASF, visit pasfsb.org