Betty Coale
Young Musician Scholarship
The Betty Coale Young Musician Scholarship grants financial awards to promising middle and high-school instrumentalists and singers. Recipients of this scholarship are featured during Christ Church Cathedral’s summer services.
We are deeply thankful for Harwell Coale’s generous donation in memory of his late wife and for their long-standing support of the music ministry at Christ Church Cathedral. Betty Coale was a cherished member of the Christ Church choir, and we are grateful that her memory lives on in the support of education and performance opportunities for Mobile-area music students.
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The Betty Coale Scholars 2024
EmmaPooler
Emma Pooler is a Korean-American 7th Grade Honor student who has been studying and performing on violin for the past eight years. She currently trains under Dr. Leonid Yavnoskiy. Emma performs weekly as an intern with the First Baptist Church Pensacola Orchestra. She received annual scholarships from 2019 to 2024 to participate in the UWF String Fest program and the UWF Piano Camp. She has been selected as soloist for multiple orchestras and competitions. Emma was accepted and invited to attend musical training at the InterHarmony Music Festival in July 2022, in Acqui Terme, Italy. Emma volunteered and performed at three separate Benefit Concert for Ukraine events. This is her third year being recognized as a recipient of the Betty Coale Young Musician Scholarship.
Matthew Pooler
Matthew Pooler is a Junior at Navarre High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society. He has been studying and performing on cello and piano for the past 7 years. He currently trains under Dr. Aleksandra Pereverzeva, and Professor Blake Riley. Matthew performs weekly as a cellist intern with the First Baptist Church Pensacola Orchestra. He has studied orchestra at the University of West Florida. He has performed in numerous competitions, and was also a finalist in the 2023 John Leatherwood Concerto Competition. In July 2022, Matthew was accepted and invited to attend musical training at the InterHarmony Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy. In 2023 Matthew volunteered and performed at two separate Benefit Concert for Ukraine events. This is his third being recognized as a recipient of the Betty Coale Young Musician Scholarship
Jonah Waits
Jonah is a rising junior at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. He currently studies under Dr. Randall Sheets, and assists Randy Bolden, music director and organist at St. Dominic Catholic Church. When he is not playing organ, Jonah plays bass clarinet in the McGill-Toolen marching band and oboe in the concert band. He also plays oboe with the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra. Jonah is very active in St. Dominic Parish, and plans to study organ performance and sacred music in college.
Carter Hale, Jr.
Carter is a rising 7th grader at St. Paul’s Episcopal School. He is an actor and singer. He is a member of the Sunny Side Theater Competition Team, and won first and second place in the Duet and Solo categories, respectively, and Best Supporting Actor at the National Youth Theatre Experience in Louisville, Kentucky. This past fall, he played a leading role as the only child character in the world premiere of “Parcel Post,” a straight play, with Chickasaw Civic Theatre. He has received vocal lessons from Tony and Emmy award winners and nominees. Carter has performed in over 15 live musical theater shows, many in which he played leading roles. He played Amahl this past Christmas in Christ Church Cathedral’s production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” Carter is an alumni of the renowned Broadway Artists Alliance (BAA) in New York City and attended again this summer for weeklong intensive camp on a Broadway stage performing with over 300+ kids from all over the nation.
Heaven Gray
Heaven is a junior at McGill Toolen Catholic High School where she is involved with the McGill Toolen Chamber singers led by director Beth Haley. Outside of school Heaven is involved in Mobile’s Singing Children, MAX3 Martial Arts, and the Maccrossan School of Irish Dance. She also serves as cantor at her parish, St. Dominic Catholic Church. Heaven is honored to receive this scholarship and has loved working with everyone.
Anika Farid
Anika Farid is a rising senior at Baker High School where she in Baker’s Dozen led. This summer she participated in STEM camp at Springhill College and was awarded a Leadership Medal. She takes voice lessons with Joyce Sylvester and Cindi Reedy. Anika is in the JROTC Program, and involved in community theater and Baker’s musical theater program.
Zoe Nguyen
Zoe Nguyen attends Philips Preparatory School. She is a member of Mobile’s Singing Children. She Takes voice lessons with Susan Hoitt. Zoe also plays the piano and is involved in the theater where she as performed in four plays
Maurgen Byrne
Maurgen is a recent graduate of the Alabama School of Math and Science. She studied under Magdalena Sage who leads the ASMS choir, orchestra, and GarageBand. She was the lead singer of the Garage Band with whom she recorded one of her original scores. Maurgen is a singer-songwriter who performs regularly at restaurants and cafés around town, including Satori, The Vault, and the Grand Mariner. She also releases originals on music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. This fall she will attend St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she will be studying the classics and receiving a classical liberal arts degree.
Iriel Espinosa
Iriel is a freshman at McGill Toolen Catholic High School. She is part of the color guard and concert band instructed by Sean Noah. She studies piano under Linda Williams. On Saturdays she plays the piano and sings for the service at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church.
Lucia Espinosa
Lucia Espinosa attends McGill Toolen Catholic High School where she is involved with the marching band and the concert band under the direction of Sean Noah. Lucia also studies piano with Linda Williams.
Sarah Beth Dudley
Sarah Beth Dudley is a rising senior at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School where she is the soprano section leader in the McGill-Toolen Chamber Choir under the direction of Ms. Beth Haley. Sarah Beth is also in the Concert and ENCORE choirs in Mobile Singing Children under the direction of Mrs. Susan Hoitt. She takes voice lessons with Mrs. Tammy Nicholas. Sarah Beth is involved in many activities including flag football, theater, and volunteering and loves reading mysteries in her free time.
Rhiannon Harris
Rhiannon Harris recently graduated from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School where she served as the soprano section leader in the McGill-Toolen Chamber Singers directed by Beth Haley. She also has been a member of Mobile’s Singing Children for the past 10 years. She will be attending the University of Southern Mississippi this fall to study music education. Rhiannon also cantors at both St. Ignatius and St. Matthew Catholic Parishes.
Madisyn Washington
Madisyn Washington graduated from Theodore High School. She is a member of Mobile’s Singing Children under the direction of Susan Hoitt. She studies voice under Danielle Portis. Madisyn is the main drummer at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Carter Hale, Jr., singer
Ryan Perry, trumpet
Emma Pooler, violin
Matthew Pooler, cello and piano
Jere' Thomas, singer/cantor
Julia Wofford, clarinet
2022 Scholarship Recipients
Cameron Beckham, tenor
Olivia Szymanski, soprano
William Stanush, trumpet
Emma Pooler, violin
Matthew Pooler, cello
Julia Wofford, clarinet
Jeré Thomas, soprano