We always look forward to our summer issue of the eLink because it features our graduating seniors who exemplify the success stories of MusicLink - our MusicLink teachers and supporters have indeed "created musicians, one student at a time." Enjoy reading their stories and sharing congratulations with us!

This issue also keeps you updated on our camp scholarship and teacher reimbursement recipients to show how MusicLink provides ongoing support to our students and teachers.

MusicLink Senior Award Winners

The MusicLink Foundation established the Senior Award of Excellence to recognize a graduating senior who has shown ongoing commitment in lessons and has made significant progress in musical studies, performing at an outstanding level. The $1,000 award is made possible through the Arline and Russell Bridge Endowment Fund. This year the MusicLink Foundation also recognized several students with MusicLink Achievement Honors awards for outstanding achievement in lessons with awards of $500 each, also made possible through the Arline and Russell Bridge Endowment Fund.

Alejandro Galdo - MusicLink
Senior Award of Excellence

Alejandro Galdo graduated from McLean High School in Virginia, and has been studying piano with Ms. Cora Lee Khambatta for 12 years. With the help of MusicLink, Alejandro has had the opportunity to work alongside professors at Ithaca College during their Summer Piano Institute and also attend international piano programs in Vermont. Among many competitions, Alejandro has participated in the Steinway and Sons Piano Competition and the Lichtenberg Piano Competition at Catholic University. During high school, Alejandro played with his school's top band and jazz band, was on the school's track and field team, and also played with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra. Alejandro will be attending the Ithaca College School of Music on a scholarship to major in Piano Performance this upcoming fall. Alejandro would like to thank his mom, Ms. Khambatta, and Dr. Haroutounian for their unwavering support in his pursuit of music.

"I am extremely grateful that I can stand as an example of someone that, regardless of background or status, has been able to pursue something as beautiful as making music. I have always benefited from people investing in my goals, whether it be through offering lessons or scholarships to attend prestigious music programs. I am eager to further my abilities at playing the piano and ultimately better my understanding of music in general through my college education."

John Lopez - MusicLink Achievement Honors

John Lopez is an 18-year-old graduate of Annandale High School in Virginia. John has been granted a full scholarship by Washington National Opera to attend its WNO Summer Opera Institute for high school students this summer. While there, he was a finalist in the Schmidt Vocal Competition. In the fall, he will attend James Madison University as a voice major in the studio of Professor Kevin McMillan. John received a full scholarship through JMU's Centennial Scholars Program. He studied voice for six years with Mrs. Joan Jurenas, and piano for four years with Mrs. Ruth Locker through the MusicLink Program. In all four years of high school, John sang in the state auditions for the National Association of Teachers of Singing at George Mason University. As a first-place winner in his category in 2016, he performed on the Honors Recital. He was voted that year by the NATS teachers to receive a superlative award: "Best high school male classical singer." He placed first in NVMTA's Voice Achievement Awards in his category in April 2014 and was a 2014 recipient of a Judy Leonard Award, a scholarship in her memory through NVMTA. In subsequent years for NATS and NVMTA, John was ranked among the top two or three place winners. He sang principal roles in his school's high school musicals, including Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and sang in the school's choral program.

"If it wasn't for music, I probably wouldn't know what my future would be. Music has affected my life on many levels. MusicLink has given me the chance to take voice lessons for the past 7 years and piano lessons for the last 4 years. Without the program, I probably wouldn't be at the level of performance that I am now. It's important to take musical study very seriously because it's an advantage that all musicians must strive for."

Riley Hinson - MusicLink Achievement Honors

Riley Hinson of Lilburn, Georgia received NFMC's Grand Cup (75 points) in 2018 and has accepted an invitation to continue his education in music at Columbus State University. Riley was a student of Debra Hughes and has won numerous numerous other county awards and has performed for various events: ensemble, senior living recitals, community concerts, Steinway concerts and for The Atlanta Music Club as a soloist in Young Performers, meetings and Musicales. He recently won MusicLink Achievement Honors Award Scholarship and Honorable Mention in the GMTA Piano Solo Auditions. Riley has also distinguished himself as a trombonist earning a chair in All-State Band and his school jazz band. He was active in his school marching band which won first place awards and he will participate in Columbus State's elite Trombone Choir. He also won the PTA's composition award for his school and county and was a finalist for the state.

"I have been involved with music my whole life and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I believe a career in music education will be a great way to continue having music in my life. The availability of music programs in school opened up many possibilities for me that defined my high school experience. I would love to be able to provide these opportunities to the next generation of musicians especially those who would otherwise not be able to have private lessons just like my music teachers did for me."

Seeking Student Nominations

Did you know that we have over 1,000 teachers who have volunteered to teach a MusicLink student, but have never been linked with one? 1,000 more students could be in lessons if we had the nominations. We, unfortunately, don't have the manpower to seek out students for all these teachers, so we need your help! We know that you support our work or you wouldn't be reading this newsletter. Help us in our mission to "create musicians one student at a time".

• If you are a volunteer teacher and would be willing to seek out a student, we have a School Packet available which helps you do that. Click HERE to download one.
• If you are a parent and you have some good ideas on how best we can reach deserving students, click HERE and let us know them.
• If you would like to become a MusicLink Ambassador and bring information about MusicLink to schools, youth groups, community organizations, etc, click HERE to volunteer.
• If you would like to serve as a local or state MusicLink coordinator, training is provided. click HERE to get more information.
• If you are aware of a student who shows musical potential, but whose family could never afford full-fee lessons, click HERE to nominate the student.

Teacher Reimbursement Program

The MusicLink Foundation provides reimbursement to teachers for any event fees or music they personally purchased for their MusicLink students. Applications are available on the website for all active MusicLink teachers. Reimbursements are distributed in January and in June. June teacher reimbursements totaled $840 to 12 teachers representing MN, NE, VA, WA, VT, ND, NC, TN, and IA.

MusicLink Sends Students to Camp!

Each year students who have taken at least 6 months of lessons through MusicLink can apply for camp scholarship of up to $250 to a camp of their choice. This summer, the organization helped send 22 students to camps in AR, MN, VA, NH, CA, NY, WA, TX, and NC.

We received a thank you note from Madeleine Thezan, a 16-year-old MusicLink student who attended the Singer Song Writing Camp at the Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

"Throughout the week at DCC Song Writing and Lyrics Camp, I had the great opportunity to learn about different genres of music and the way songwriters work to create lyrics using different techniques and forms. I enjoyed working with my camp-mates to create songs using techniques that are used by professional songwriters. Another awesome skill I learned was how to use Garage Band, a type of software for creating music. My sincere thanks for bringing me one step further in my music experience and education by allowing me to go to such an amazing summer camp this year."

Malik Muhammed and Kyli Jackson

The summer program at A Touch of Classical Plus in Chicago, IL, received a grass roots grant from the MusicLink Foundation. Its director, Phyllis Calderon shares photos and a video from the program.

Kyli Jackson Video

Congratulations to MusicLink
Graduating Seniors

MN: Sawyer Carey, has been studying piano with Jean Bostrom for six years He is going to California this summer to worship school for 2 weeks. Sawyer said, "It is a worship intensive called WorshipU. It's tuned toward worship leading, music and ministry, all of my passions. Worship leading is something I feel called to do and hope to do it full time someday."

MI: Kileyah Cook studied piano with Diana Munch for three years through MusicLink. Kileyah will be attending a local community college in the fall and plans to transfer to the University of Michigan-Dearborn in hopes of pursuing a career in Veterinary Medicine. Playing the piano is an enjoyable lifelong hobby for Kileyah.

VA: Devnath Ghosh studied piano with Peggy Newhall for 5 years and voice with Richard Wilmer for 1 year as part of the MusicLink program. Dev graduated from McLean High School in Virginia and will attend George Mason University where he will major in engineering. He enjoys mixed martial arts and achieved a black belt in karate. He also recently completed a two-week internship at the National Institute of Health.

GA: Cindy Yamilett Amaya Lopez is 17 years of age and graduated from Brookwood High School as an AP Scholar, honor student, and decorated with cords from Science National Honor society, English National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. In her music career, she has been playing the violin for 7 years and piano for almost 4 years with Nora Martin. She is a member of various school clubs. She will attend Emory University with fully-paid tuition. She will start as a Biology major but plans to transfer into Biomedical Engineering.

GA: Noel Squire, a student of Mary Dekkers for three years, is going to Columbus State University to study filming. A musically gifted student who was also very busy not only taking piano and playing violin in orchestra but working as well. Needless to say, she will be missed!

NY: Chelsea Nava, a piano student of Julie Wegener, graduated from Columbia Secondary School. She will be attending New York City College of Technology in the fall, with plans to pursue a career in forensic psychology. Since she will be attending college in NYC, she will be continuing piano study with Julie. "I really enjoyed learning the piano," said Chelsea. "It made me appreciate music more because I was able to learn more about myself. When I played the piano, it was like I was surrounded in my own little world, and nothing really mattered." Julie loves working with Chelsea and is thrilled that geography allows her to continue. "Chelsea is a lovely individual. Her expressive playing is a window into the person she is," wrote Julie.

NE: Tabor Glynn, student of Lori Supernaw, is a homeschool graduate from Clarks, NE. This year he received his fourth consecutive superiors in Theory, Piano Solo and Hymn Playing at Junior Music Festival. He also received his first gold cup in Sight Reading. Tabor enjoys playing duets with his siblings and making his own arrangements of songs. His future plans are to work for his father's lawn care business and attend community college.

TX: Patrick Vaughan, a piano student of Sherry Frush for the past four years, received scholarships to attend University of Dallas, and hopes to continue music study with an emphasis on organ so he can play for church. He earned honorable mention for the Abilene Music Teachers Association Senior Participation Award. He is also an Eagle Scout.

SC: Joshua Wall graduated from Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina. His teacher, Debbie Ruth, said, "Joshua has been my piano student since his first lesson when he was in first grade, following in his sister, Jordan's steps. Joshua has always been a dedicated student, diligently preparing week by week for his lessons, and he holds one of the records in my studio for highest attendance rate! Though Joshua is quiet by nature, he has learned to express himself very effectively at the piano. His repertoire has included mostly classical, some sacred/contemporary Christian, and even a little jazz mixed in. Theory has always been his strong suit; I could always count on Joshua to have his theory assignment completed!" He will attend the University of South Carolina in the fall, and plans to major in civil engineering and minor in music.

TX: Eva Freeman, a piano student of Sherry Frush, will attend Abilene Christian University on multiple scholarships. She was awarded honorable mention for state and local Senior Participation Awards from Abilene MTA and Texas Music Teachers Association. She plans to help in Sherry's studio as time permits.

IL: Angelica Vasko, a student of Marcia Mally, graduated from Oak Park/River Forest High School. She has performed in NWSMTA Festival of Pianos for four years, two major recitals, at Christmas and June, and has entertained the residents at local nursing homes, Norwood Crossings and The Danish Home. Angelica is also part of the Youth Ministry at St. Giles Catholic Church in Oak Park. While in high school, she received a scholarship to Cosmetology School and now has a job to help her attend Concordia University, Chicago, and pursue a career in nursing. Angelica received an academic scholarship at Concordia which will help pay her tuition.

We also congratulate the following MusicLink graduating seniors and their teachers:

• Freemin Bauer - Michelle Gordon (MA)
• Maggie Lou Alice Carter - Chad Leatherman (NC)
• Eddie Mason - Patti Nyien (IL)
• Morgan Steffens - Kris Latcham (MN)
• Melody Swanson - Heidi Hansen (MN)

The MusicLink Foundation has the distinction of being one of the top-rated non-profits on the greatnonprofits.org website for the past five years. We encourage you to add a review to the website by October 31st so we can retain our top-rated badge for 2018. We need 10 positive reviews (4+ or above) by that deadline to receive the honor. To add a review, click HERE. Many thanks!

New Teachers

We welcome 12 new teachers who joined MusicLink in the past two months. Total active MusicLink teachers: 287 Total overall MusicLink teachers: 2,963

FL - Sue Lorimier; KS - Laura Martinez; MN - Sarah Carter-Sweatte, Susan Janey, Wendy Johnson, Diana Mills; OR - Jeannine Jordan, Talia Neely-Sanfilippo; TX - Corine Garcia; UT - Rebecca Udy; VA - Irene Light; WA - Jania Christensen

New Businesses

We welcome the following new MusicLink Business Partners: Sweetwater (global) and Classic Pianos (Oregon).