The Future Looks Bright: Four Promising Young Arizona Artists

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 From Left to Right: Dana Brink, Jeanelle Brierley, Evan Pensis, & Karen Nguyen-courtesy of AZ Musicfest

Arizona Musicfest has recently announced the 2013/2014 Arizona Musicfest Scholarship Recipients.

The newest recipient of The Arizona Musicfest Scholarship is Dana Brink, bassoonist, from Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona.
 
Dana Brink, age eighteen, will attend Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in the fall. She has been playing the bassoon since her freshman year of high school and currently studies with Melanie Sanguinetti of the Arizona Opera.  Dana has been principal bassoonist of the Phoenix Youth Symphony under the direction of Keitaro Harada for two years. Dana has also performed with the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company and Chandler Symphony Orchestra.  She placed first at AMEA All-State in 2012 and second in 2013. Dana was also a finalist at the Phoenix Youth Symphony’s Young Musicians Competition in 2013.

“I am so honored to have been selected for this scholarship - never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that less than four years after starting on my instrument (bassoon) I would be on the pathway to becoming a professional musician and attending the amazing Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in the fall. The Arizona Musicfest Scholarship will undoubtedly help me make that dream a reality,” said Dana Brink upon receiving the Scholarship.

Dana joins violinist Jeanelle Brierley (2012/2013 Scholarship recipient and Cleveland Institute of Music Student), pianist Evan Pensis (2012/2013 Scholarship recipient and Thornton School of Music,USC student), and pianist Karen Nguyen (2011/2012 & 2012.2013 Scholarship recipient and Arizona State University student), who were also awarded scholarships this year (2013/2014).

“Part of our mission is to support young musicians who have a passion for classical music. Arizona Musicfest is proud to offer scholarships to accomplished young musicians pursuing a career in classical music performance,” said Ann Wallenmeyer-Krahman, Arizona Musicfest Chairman of the Board.

“This year we could not be more proud of our four scholarship winners. Each of them excels musically, academically and their extracurricular activities cover a wide range of interests. These young adults are so accomplished, it is inspiring!” exclaimed Wallenmeyer-Krahman.

THE ARIZONA MUSICFEST SCHOLARSHIP 2014/2015

Information on The Arizona Musicfest Scholarship 2014/2015 will be available in January 2014. Details and the Application Form will be posted on the Arizona Musicfest website at www.azmusicfest.org. Anyone with questions is encouraged to call Arizona Musicfest at 480-488-0806 or toll free 866-488-0806. The Scholarship is open to all residents of Arizona.