Orrville Community Chorus awards Victor Gerber Memorial Music Scholarship
The Orrville Community Chorus board of directors has announced the recipients of the 2011 Victor Gerber Memorial Music Scholarship. This scholarship honors Victor Gerber, former music director for the Dalton Local Schools and the founder and former director of the Orrville Community Chorus.
This year’s recipients are Peter Douglas from Dalton High School, Alisa Murray from Central Christian High School, and Andrew Shaffer from Wooster High School. Each has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Peter Douglas, son of Larry and Amie Douglas, will attend Baldwin Wallace College-Conservatory in the fall and is planning to major in piano performance. While a student at Dalton, Douglas was actively involved in the vocal music program as a member of the concert choir, chorale, men’s chorus, and as the women’s chorus accompanist. He was also a member of the marching, concert, and jazz bands, and participated in school musicals. In addition to music activities, he was a class officer and a member of the National Honor Society, and the French Club. Additional music activities include Tri-County Honors Band, solo piano recitals, church pianist, participation in the Indiana University Piano Academy and the Kent State Piano Institute, and winner of the Wilson Taylor Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the MacDowell Club of Wooster. He has also been a member of the Junior Jury for the Cleveland International Piano Competition and has participated in master classes with professional pianists Edward Auer, Spencer Myer, and Joella Jones, principal keyboardist of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Alisa Murray will attend Hesston College in the fall. Her plans include an undergraduate degree in music education and a career in music therapy. Murray is the daughter of Pastor Randall and Amy Murray. While a student at Central Christian High School, she was a member of the concert choir, chorale, Varsity Singers, the orchestra, and the jazz band, and she participated in school musicals. In addition to music activities, she was a member of the volleyball and softball teams, Pep Club, Student Council, and was a class officer. Her volunteer and community activities include Operation Connection, Orrville Community Theater, WINGS at Orrville Mennonite, community service with the Salvation Army, and involvement in the music program at Martin’s Mennonite Church.
A graduate of Wooster High School, Andrew Shaffer is the son of Chris and Cindy Shaffer. He plans to pursue a degree in vocal music education at Ashland University. During his high school years, Shaffer was a member of the concert and jazz choirs and was president of the Choir Council. He was also involved with several musicals, and participated in OMEA solo and ensemble contests. Additional music activities include All Ohio Youth Choir, Fine Arts Festival, and vocalist in the rock band Blue Silence. In addition to music activities, he participated in school plays and was a member of the National Honor Society, International Thespian Troupe, Drama Club, German Club, and the soccer team. He is an assistant soccer coach and a soccer referee for Wooster Parks and Recreation.
Scholarships are granted to seniors graduating from a Wayne County high school who demonstrate outstanding participation in music activities, academic achievement, and leadership, and who will begin post-secondary education in the fall following graduation. Since the inception of this award in 2003, twenty scholarships have been given to students representing seven Wayne County school districts. Proceeds from the Orrville Community Chorus’ annual presentation of Messiah by George Frideric Handel fund the scholarship.
The 2011 performance of Messiah by the Orrville Community Chorus will be Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., at Central Christian School, located at 3970 Kidron Road, Kidron, Ohio.
Visit the chorus website at http://www.orrvillecommunitychorus.org for information about the performance and the Victor Gerber Memorial Music Scholarship. Donor information for those wanting to support the Orrville Community Chorus performance and scholarship is available on the website.
This year’s recipients are Peter Douglas from Dalton High School, Alisa Murray from Central Christian High School, and Andrew Shaffer from Wooster High School. Each has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Peter Douglas, son of Larry and Amie Douglas, will attend Baldwin Wallace College-Conservatory in the fall and is planning to major in piano performance. While a student at Dalton, Douglas was actively involved in the vocal music program as a member of the concert choir, chorale, men’s chorus, and as the women’s chorus accompanist. He was also a member of the marching, concert, and jazz bands, and participated in school musicals. In addition to music activities, he was a class officer and a member of the National Honor Society, and the French Club. Additional music activities include Tri-County Honors Band, solo piano recitals, church pianist, participation in the Indiana University Piano Academy and the Kent State Piano Institute, and winner of the Wilson Taylor Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the MacDowell Club of Wooster. He has also been a member of the Junior Jury for the Cleveland International Piano Competition and has participated in master classes with professional pianists Edward Auer, Spencer Myer, and Joella Jones, principal keyboardist of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Alisa Murray will attend Hesston College in the fall. Her plans include an undergraduate degree in music education and a career in music therapy. Murray is the daughter of Pastor Randall and Amy Murray. While a student at Central Christian High School, she was a member of the concert choir, chorale, Varsity Singers, the orchestra, and the jazz band, and she participated in school musicals. In addition to music activities, she was a member of the volleyball and softball teams, Pep Club, Student Council, and was a class officer. Her volunteer and community activities include Operation Connection, Orrville Community Theater, WINGS at Orrville Mennonite, community service with the Salvation Army, and involvement in the music program at Martin’s Mennonite Church.
A graduate of Wooster High School, Andrew Shaffer is the son of Chris and Cindy Shaffer. He plans to pursue a degree in vocal music education at Ashland University. During his high school years, Shaffer was a member of the concert and jazz choirs and was president of the Choir Council. He was also involved with several musicals, and participated in OMEA solo and ensemble contests. Additional music activities include All Ohio Youth Choir, Fine Arts Festival, and vocalist in the rock band Blue Silence. In addition to music activities, he participated in school plays and was a member of the National Honor Society, International Thespian Troupe, Drama Club, German Club, and the soccer team. He is an assistant soccer coach and a soccer referee for Wooster Parks and Recreation.
Scholarships are granted to seniors graduating from a Wayne County high school who demonstrate outstanding participation in music activities, academic achievement, and leadership, and who will begin post-secondary education in the fall following graduation. Since the inception of this award in 2003, twenty scholarships have been given to students representing seven Wayne County school districts. Proceeds from the Orrville Community Chorus’ annual presentation of Messiah by George Frideric Handel fund the scholarship.
The 2011 performance of Messiah by the Orrville Community Chorus will be Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., at Central Christian School, located at 3970 Kidron Road, Kidron, Ohio.
Visit the chorus website at http://www.orrvillecommunitychorus.org for information about the performance and the Victor Gerber Memorial Music Scholarship. Donor information for those wanting to support the Orrville Community Chorus performance and scholarship is available on the website.
Published: June 16, 2011
