Students Awarded Vocal Scholarships from the Bushnell

The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts has announced the winners of this year's Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship, a scholarship program for young singers.

The 2012-2013 fellows are Dylan Fabas of East Hartford, who attends East Catholic High School, Reagan Henke of Avon, who attends Miss Porter's School, Lea Peterson of West Hartford, who attends Chase Collegiate School, Nathaniel Ross of Waterford, who attends Waterford High School, Katie Walsh of Manchester, who attends Manchester High School, Kelly Whitesell of Hebron, who attends RHAM High School and Miles Wilson-Toliver of Meriden, who attends the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.

The Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship is a full scholarship vocal training program for a select number of very talented and highly-motivated high school-aged singers interested in classical and theatrical music. The Fellowship fosters the education and careers of young, serious singers through private voice lessons, vocal coaching, musical skills, master classes, and performance opportunities.

The students awarded the Fellowship are invited to join a rigorous musical experience that will expand their vocal skills, encourage personal growth and character development. Fellows commit to one hour private lessons each week in three areas throughout the duration of the program: vocal performance and classical training, vocal coaching, and musical skills. In addition to the expectations the program places on daily and weekly rehearsal practice, master classes are held each month at The Bushnell led by the Artistic Director and distinguished guest artists within specialties that include Cabaret, Musical Theater, Opera, and Monologues among others. The master classes provide an opportunity for the Fellows to perform and benefit from the feedback and insight of the accomplished guests.

The Fellows are also invited to attend workshops and select performances at The Bushnell and other venues in Connecticut throughout the year. The culmination of each year is a spring concert held at the Belding Theater in The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts featuring the Fellows performing vocal pieces reflective of the prior year's training in classical and musical theater repertoire.

The Fellowship is made possible through a generous gift from the Darling family of Simsbury, and is named in recognition of both their Ensign family heritage and their long-time interest in The Bushnell, where the late Mr. Robert Darling was been a Trustee and Honorary Trustee. The Ensign-Bickford Foundation of Simsbury also provides funding for this program.

Over 30 students from across Connecticut applied for the scholarships. Students must submit an application and complete a two-day audition. A panel comprised of the Fellowship director, other professional singers and vocal coaches judge the applicants according to several criteria, including vocal quality, technique, interpretation, and personal expression.