A Villages Charter School student has been awarded the top prize in the annual Harold Schwartz Music Scholarship competition.
Kayla Tassone, a soprano, is the first student from the charter school to win the top scholarship in the competition, which is put on by the Opera Club of The Villages. The ceremony was held this past Thursday in the Lincoln Room at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center.
Tassone also had the lead role in the charter school's production of "Into the Woods." So, she performed her audition piece, "Vilja," from "The Merry Widow," by Frank Lehar, and received her $12,000 scholarship, then raced to the Sharon to perform her role as Rapunzel in the production that played three nights at the performing arts center in Spanish Springs Town Square.
The other scholarship winners were:
- Second-place - Cayden Johnson, homeschooled pianist, Tavares $10,000;
- Third-place - Madison Hart, flute, Mount Dora, $8,000;
- Fourth-place - Olivia Hanna, oboe, Mount Dora, $6,000.
The opera club also awarded four encouragement awards. Those were made possible through contributions from members and friends of the organization who wanted to honor someone, or to simply sponsor an additional prize for a deserving student. These monetary awards are for the students' use for music-related expenses associated with their college studies.
The winners were:
- Jan Justino-Medina, tenor, Leesburg High School, sponsored by the Doherty Family in memory of Maestro Bill Doherty's sister and father ($3,000);
- Antonio Vergara, alto sax, South Lake High School, who received the Paul Pappadio Encouragement Award contributed by Felecia Pappadio ($1,000);
- Briana Pols, bassoon, Tavares High School, who received the Lois Ridge Encouragement Award, which was contributed by Frank Ridge ($1,000);
- Justice Yates, baritone, Tavares High School, received the Diana and Joseph Arlt Encouragement Award, which was contributed by the Opera Club of the Villages ($1,000).
All told, $42,000 was awarded to deserving scholarship winners. They were made possible as a result of generous donations from Opera Club members, friends and several Villages organizations, including Bands of The Villages, Village Voices, Showcase of Talent, Central Florida Lyric Opera, the Paul and Phyllis Chu Trust, Belk Charity and Johnson & Johnson.
