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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.

If you or someone you know would like to submit an application to be considered for this scholarship, please apply here. Please direct any questions to Elizabeth Bemis.

2022 Scholarship Recipients

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CAMERON BECKHAM 
TENOR

Cameron Beckham is a senior at W.P. Davidson High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society, Advanced Choir and Theatre. He was a member of All-State Choir 2018 and 2022. Cameron has also been a member of the Mobile Kappa League since 2020. He has also served as member of City of Mobile Youth Council since 2020.  Cameron is a worship leader at his church and loves the Lord with all his heart. He is grateful to have been selected for the Betty Coale Young Musician Scholarship and vows to continue to encourage God's children.

Studies with Cherri Duncan

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OLIVIA SZYMANSKI  SOPRANO

Olivia Szymanski is a Senior at the Baldwin County Virtual School in Daphne, AL. As a SETC 2022 Keynote Emerging Artist of Promise, Olivia placed 1st in the High School Musical Theatre category of the Alabama NATS competition. Olivia studies voice under the guidance of Mr. Brandon Marcus at The Studio and participates with many local theatre groups. Some of her favorite roles have included Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls. After graduation, Olivia plans to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Studies with Brandon Marcus

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WILLIAM STANUSH TRUMPET

William Stanush has been playing the trumpet for four years. He is a sophomore at Daphne High School where he is a member of the Sound of the Eastern Shore Band.  When he is not playing the trumpet, he enjoys composing music, playing video games, and hanging out with friends. He currently studies with Dr. Peter Wood.

Studies with Dr. Peter Wood

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EMMA POOLER
VIOLIN

Emma, 11 years old, is entering 6th grade and has been studying and performing on violin for the past six years. She currently trains under Dr. Leonid Yavnoskiy. Emma has performed weekly as a First Baptist Church Orchestra member in Navarre, Florida.  She received annual scholarships from 2019 to 2021 to participate in the UWF Stringfest program, an advanced weekly summer study and performance program.  In 2020 Emma was selected as the soloist to play Bach's Double Concerto. 

In 2021 she was selected as the only violin finalist by the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Northwest Florida Symphony Guild for the 34th Annual John Leatherwood Concerto Competition, Jr. Division.  Also, in 2021, as a pianist, she participated in the Pensacola Music Teachers Association (PMTA) Sonata Competition, taking second place in the Level 7B Division as the youngest competitor in the group. Emma finished 5th Grade from Gulf Point Latin School, where she annually earns the highest grades/honor (A/A+).

In March 2022 Emma competed in the PMTA Concerto Competition held at UWF for Florida District 1, and was awarded First Place for her rendition of Bach’s Concerto in A Minor.  From there she advanced to the Florida State Strings Competition held at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where again she was selected as the Winner of the Junior Concerto State Strings Competition. Emma was accepted and invited to attend musical training at the InterHarmony Music Festival in July 2022, in Acqui Terme, Italy, to receive some of the best strings instruction available to students. 

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MATTHEW POOLER
CELLO

Matthew, age 15, is a high-school sophomore from Navarre, Florida, who has been studying and performing on Cello for the past six years.  He currently trains under Dr. Aleksandra Pereverzeva. Last fall, he was invited by Dr. Sheila Dunn, associate professor and director of the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music (UWF), to enroll in their Advanced Symphony Orchestra Course, where Matthew completed his 2nd semester of this course study. 

Matthew received annual scholarships from 2019 to 2022 to participate in the UWF Stringfest program, an advanced weekly summer study and performance program. He also performed weekly as a First Baptist Church Navarre Orchestra member in Navarre, Florida. He has recently performed in several competitions, most recently the UWF Music Study Scholarship competition in 2021, earning runner-up honors as the youngest competitor in the group. Also, in 2021, as a pianist, he participated in the Pensacola Music Teachers Association Music Scholarship Competition, taking first place in the Jr. High Division. In May 2022 Matthew also received a Summer Music Camp Scholarship from Choctaw Bay Music Club, Niceville, Florida.  He was also invited to attend musical training at the InterHarmony Music Festival this July, in Acqui Terme, Italy, to receive some of the best strings instruction available to students. 

Studies with Dr. Alexandra Pereverzeva 

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JULIA WOFFORD
CLARINET

Julia is a Senior at Robertsdale High School, Robertsdale Alabama and has been playing clarinet since she was 11 years old. This is her second year as a  Drum Major in the RHS marching band. She is also first chair clarinet in the Wind Ensemble. She has been a member of the Alabama High School All State Band for the last two years and the Alabama District VII honor band, as well as Baldwin County High School Honor bands for the past three years.  Her previous clarinet instructor was Linde Lynn, First Chair Baldwin Pops and is now taking private lessons with Cameron Swann, University of South Alabama.  She plans to continue her musical education and performance in college.  Her Grandmother, Patricia Burchfield was a member of Christ Church Cathedral and would be very proud of Julia as a recipient of the Betty Coale Young Musician Scholarship. 

Studies with Cameron Swann

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JERÉ THOMAS 
SOPRANO

Jeré Thomas began performing at the age of 3, and has performed throughout the City of Mobile for the present and former Mayors, Police Chief and at many other important conferences, meetings, and events.

Jeré is now a 17 year old upcoming senior at McGill-Toolen High School. She is an AB student, a member of the elite chorus, Chamber Singers, and regularly participates with the Dauphin Way United Methodist Church Choir.  Jeré has studied classical voice for 7+years under the instruction of Joyce Sylvester at The University Of South Alabama. She plans to continue higher education at USA where her goal will be to acquire a degree in Elementary Education, and minor in vocal performance.

In her spare time, Jeré enjoys writing music, cooking, dabbling in cosmetology, being a helping hand to her family/peers, and spending time with her puppies, Mason and Max.

Studies with Joyce Sylvester

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