Christopher Mesi Scholarship
Christopher Mesi Memorial Music Scholarship
The Cascade Blues Association (CBA) is pleased to offer a musical scholarship in the amount of $500.00. This award is to be used for tuition only by students enrolled in a music degree program at any Oregon or SW Washington College for the Fall Term.
This scholarship was established in January 1997 in the memory of Christopher James Mesi, who passed away on July 11, 1996 at age 22 months, due to health complications stemming from a rare respiratory condition known as “Tracheal Rings.” Funds continue to be raised to promote the life and growth of this scholarship and its contribution to the field of music.
The CBA encourages anyone pursuing an undergraduate degree in music at a local college to apply.
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2011 Christopher Mesi Scholarship Application Process
The Cascade Blues Association (CBA) is pleased to offer a musical scholarship in the amount of $500.00. This award is to be used for tuition only by students enrolled in a music degree program at any Oregon or SW Washington College for the 2011 Fall Term.
This scholarship was established in January 1997 in the memory of Christopher James Mesi, who passed away on July 11, 1996 at age 22 months, due to health complications stemming from a rare respiratory condition known as "Tracheal Rings." Funds continue to be raised to promote the life and growth of this scholarship and its contribution to the field of music.
CRITERIA FOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
- Any high school senior or current college student pursuing a music degree.
- A student who has demonstrated commitment to school or community through involvement in activities.
- A grade point average of 2.75 or greater (attach transcript).
- Two (2) letters of recommendation: one (1) from current music teacher and one (1) from a counselor or teacher.
- Application completed and submitted by the deadline.
- Proof of college enrollment, fall 2011 term, must be submitted prior to award.
TIMELINE FOR APPLICATION PROCESS
| Application Process Opens | April 15, 2011 |
| Applications & all Supporting Documents Due | July 1, 2011 |
| Selection Process Completed & Winner Notified | August 1, 2011 |
| Funds Available for Fall 2010 after Proof of Enrollment | August 15, 2011 |
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Once the application process has opened, two items will be available here for you to download: the Scholarship Info Sheet, which essentially provides a hard copy of the same information found on this page for your reference, and the Scholarship Application Form, which you must download and fill out to apply for the Scholarship.
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Scholarship Application Form |
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Scholarship Info Sheet |
For application, download at: www.cascadeblues.org (see above) or write to: CBA Scholarship Committee P.O. Box 14493 Portland, OR 97293-0493 |
Send completed application to: CBA Scholarship Committee P.O. Box 14493 Portland, OR 97293-0493 |
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Colin Malloy named 2010 CBA Scholarship recipient
Colin Malloy, the 2010 CBA Scholarship winner, is in his final year at Oregon State. While he plays both guitar and piano, his major and musical passion is percussion. Colin has given a lot of his time and talents instructing and sharing music with students who have had little or no musical experience.
His future plans include pursuing music as a career; writing, performing, recording, and of course, teaching in some capacity.
We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him perform sometime in the near future.
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Nathan Paulsen - 2009 Christopher Mesi Scholarship Winner
At the September Monthly Meeting, the Cascade Blues Association was proud to announce Nathan Paulsen as their 2009 Christopher Mesi Scholarship winner. Nathan, a recent graduate of Beaverton High School, played a significant role in his school’s music department. While there, he performed in the Wind Ensemble on euphonium, horn, and trumpet, and performed in the Concert Band on trombone and tuba. He was also a member of the Marching Band, played in the Pit Orchestra for three spring musicals, the Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, and the school Pep Band. Beaverton High’s Director of Bands, Josh Head, described Nathan as a leader with raw talent and a drive to succeed. He wrote of his “natural ability as a teacher, and has, on many occasions, lead groups of younger students through difficult passages of music with patience and maturity beyond his years”. Nathan’s tutelage and vision transformed the schools brass ensemble “from a fledgling group to a frequent performer at community events, school events, and on local radio”. As a senior, Nathan developed, and directed, The Beaver Band, a student-directed band to play at assemblies and other venues not covered by the regular school bands. He would organize gigs, schedule practices, and was in charge of getting the equipment in place. The band will continue on, so Nathan has left his imprint on the school’s music department.
Nathan described the school’s new band director as “the single most influential person in my life. Lots of people make fun of me for this, but I wish to emulate him in as many ways as possible”. He further said, “to him, teaching music isn’t a job, it’s his calling, a way of life. And through him I have realized that I have that same calling and wish to follow in his footsteps”. As for Nathan’s future in music? With his $ 500 scholarship, he will be attending the University of Oregon’s School of Music. His goal is to be a high school band director and “teach and help instill in other young people a love for music” like he has developed. We wish him well as he carries on the mission of the CBA, which is preserving, supporting and promoting music.
-- Merry Larsen
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1997 Award Announcement
Kailyn Daniels
The Cascade Blues Association is pleased to announce Kailyn Daniels as the first recipient of The Christopher' Mesi Memorial Scholarship for 1997.
Kailyn is a freshman at Clackamas Community College pursuing a degree in Music and Business. She is an accomplished piano player and singer, not only with her previous high school choir, but also her church choir and the CCC Chorale. Kailyn, along with Lonnie Cline, Director of Music at CCC, traveled to Estonia in 1996 where she sang a solo by Veljo Tormis with Mr. Tormis listening in the audience. It was then she realized that music is definitely a life changing experience.
Kailyn credits her piano and voice instructors with teaching her not only the technical side of music, but allowing her to learn how to "feel" and "understand" the music. Her decision to major in Music stems from seeing how music can impact a person's life as well as her own. She believes that we can use music to reach others and help make this world a better place. Kailyn relates that, "Music can inspire everyone from the young to the old, the happy to the sad, and those just looking for answers."
The CBA encourages anyone pursuing an undergraduate degree in Music at the local community college level to apply for the Christopher Mesi Memorial Music Scholarship. Please watch the BluesNotes for information on how to apply for this award.
Love and Blues
Susan Stewart
CBA Scholarship Committee Chair
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1998 Award Announcement
Adam Barr
The Cascade Blues Association is pleased to announce that Adam Barr is the recipient of The Christopher Mesi Memorial Scholarship for 1998.
Adam attends Portland State University and is pursuing a degree in Music and/or Computer Science and is already an accomplished musician at a ripe young age of 18. Guitar, Bass, Saxophone and Drums are what this scholarship winner lists as part of his diversified musical experience. Adam states that he was "raised with music". His father was a recording engineer in Portland before he passed away in 1990, leaving his mother to raise him and his two sisters.
Adam started playing the drums in 1988 and took saxophone lessons from Danny Schaffer (of the Crazy 8s fame) for a few years, but has focused on the bass and guitar - which he has played religiously for the past 10 years. He was the guitarist for a local "industrial" band named Suture for the past two years. Since then, he and a fellow ex-Suture bandmate have started their own production company and have been hired by schools and churches to DJ parties and events. As for current endeavors, Adam is currently working on a record project and it seems a record company has already shown some interest in possibly signing him to a contract.
As for the future, Adam says, he'd "love to make music" but if that doesn't work out as planned, he would be happy with a career in the computer industry and as always, "making music on the side".
The CBA encourages anyone pursuing an undergraduate degree at the local community college level to apply. Please keep watching the BluesNotes for announcements.
Love and Blues
Susan Stewart
CBA Scholarship Committee Chair
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