The 2015 William D. Revelli Scholarship was awarded to Mikaela Ray of Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee on Saturday, March 12th during the Gala Awards Banquet at the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Music for All Annual Fund Manager Gregg Puls and scholarship winner Mikaela Ray
This annual scholarship of $1,000 was created in memory of Dr. William D. Revelli, one of America’s finest and most accomplished conductors, to help one graduating high school senior each year that is performing at the Music for All National Festival study music education at the university level. Each recipient is chosen based upon his or her academic, musical and community service accomplishments, a personal essay written about music education and a nomination from a his or her band director.
“This was my third year at the Music for All National Festival and it is an honor to receive this scholarship after witnessing several of my role models receive it in years past,” said recipient Mikaela Ray. “I look forward to the day when I can bring my own ensemble to the festival and give them the same positively life-changing experience that I’ve had.”
Ray is a two-time Honor Band of America member who has performed in the National Concert Band Festival and the Chamber Music National Festival. She is the principal horn and section leader in her high school’s band and is passionate about helping others realize their musical potential.
Since each recipient must intend to pursue a degree in music education, this scholarship has become an extension of Music for All’s mission to create, provide, and expand positively live-changing experiences through music for all. Music for All also offers opportunities for students, parents, and directors to perform and improve their musical and leadership skills through its workshops, competitions, festivals, and honor ensembles.
Music for All will continue to offer this scholarship in future years and encourages all qualifying students to apply. The application for next year’s scholarship will be released in late 2015.
