Cascade Blues Association's
Christopher Mesi
Memorial Music Scholarship
Fall 2000 Award Announcement
In September, the CBA awarded two Christopher Mesi Memorial Music
Scholarships, in the amount of $500.00 each, to two deserving students who
are pursuing a college major in music. And our winners are...
The Cascade Blues Association is proud to announce that
Jarrod Quon, a freshman at Whitman College and
Elena Wolfe, a senior at Reynolds High School were selected as the Fall 2000 recipients of the
"Christopher Mesi Memorial Music Scholarship". Each student will receive $500 toward their college tuition to help further their education in the field of music. The decision, as usual, was tough, but
Jarrod's and Elena's applications stood out from the others. The CBA would like you, our members, to know a little bit about these two outstanding young musicians.
Jarrod Quon
Our first scholarship winner is Jarrod Quon. Jarrod is a graduate of
Westview High School in Portland, Oregon and is currently a Music major at
Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Music classes for Jarrod began as early as the first grade but it wasn't until the fourth grade that he actually got to join the grade school band. His first instrument was the clarinet, but by the time he graduated high school, he was well versed on six different instruments: bass clarinet, alto & tenor saxophone, tuba and trombone.
As a member and soloist for the Westview High Symphonic Band, Jazz
Band and Marching Band, as well as a singer in the concert and honor choirs,
Jarrod emerged as a leader. Some of his accomplishments included first, second and third place in state band and solo competition and CoPresident of the concert choir. He also found time to perform in eight musicals, take private voice lessons and play in the
Preparatory for the Portland Youth
Philharmonic.
Keeping his options open for the future, Jarrod has his sights set on becoming a woodwind specialist and looks forward to several career options such as playing in the orchestra pit for Broadway musicals, being a professional studio musician or perhaps a high school or college band director.
Jarrod explains that he is not sure which career path he'll follow and these are definitely not his only options, but he is sure that life without music is
unimaginable and that he wants it to always be a part of his life.
Elena Wolfe
Elena Wolf is the second winner of the fall scholarship. Elena
is a senior at Reynolds High School in Portland, OR, and is planning to
attend either OSU or WSU in the fall. When asked to write
about herself, she said "Flute and basketball... My entire life
revolves around my love for these two activities, and it is my heart, skill and determination
that has driven me to succeed in both. Music and basketball allow me to express myself, and they give me a sense of fulfillment that nothing else in my life can give. It is this love that motivates me to put in the long hours of hard practice needed to be successful."
And, successful she is. Elena toured through Europe with the
Oregon Ambassadors of Music in 1999, was chosen to attend the
Northern California Flute Camp to study with the world-renowned flutist,
Carol Wincenc, participated in the All-State Honor Band, and was selected to be a featured soloist with the
Mount Hood Pops Symphony Orchestra. Even with all she has accomplished, she still takes the time to give back what she has learned and is currently giving weekly music lessons to seven students in her community.
It is Elena's intentions to continue playing and teaching the flute throughout her life as well as obtaining a double major in music performance and Zoology. She is also looking forward to performing in a professional symphony and playing basketball for her college's varsity team.
I want to wish Jarrod and Elena success in their future endeavors as well as to say thank you to all the high school and college students who applied for the fall scholarship. Our next open application process will start
November 1st 2000.
Love and Blues
Susan Stewart
CBA Scholarship Committee Chair
©
2000 Cascade Blues Association