Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition Winners Announced

The 7th Annual Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarship prizes to fifteen students, coming from as far as Korea, who will be beginning their studies at the University of Kentucky this fall semester. Occurring once again at the University of Kentucky's Singletary Center for the Arts, the competition was emceed by 2011's Alltech graduate winner Julie LaDouceur and included performances from LaDouceur and 2011's undergraduate winner AnDrew Miller.

As this scholarship program grows to become the one of the largest in the world, founder and president of Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons said, "The large scholarship opportunities are part of the reason the University of Kentucky attracts magnificent talent to the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre program. When students realize they can have their tuition paid for and then some, they want to be here. This is why I am thrilled to see this competition grow and it is crucial that this program continues to thrive."

"It is exciting to lure students not only locally, but nationally. This truly shows the breadth of this competition and the Opera Theatre program at the University of Kentucky. This competition wouldn't be possible without the great work from Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons and UK," said Dr. Everett McCorvey, director of the University of Kentucky's Opera Theatre program.

New to the program this year were school scholarships. Three Kentucky schools received $500 scholarships toward their school's music program. These prizes were awarded to the three schools with the most students in attendance at the competition, Lafayette High School, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School and East Jessamine High School.

2012 Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition Results:

1st Place Graduate Award: $12,000 plus full tuition, graduate assistantship – Thomas Gunther

2nd Place Graduate Award: $8,000 plus full tuition, graduate assistantship – Kathrin M. Thawley

3rd Place Graduate Award $5,000 – Andrea Pearson

1st Place Undergraduate Award: $6,000 plus tuition waiver – Catherine Wright

2nd Place Undergraduate Award: $3,000 plus tuition waiver – Alyssa- Marie Detterich

3rd Place Undergraduate Award $2,000 – Austin Vitaliano

Outstanding Transfer Award $3,000 plus tuition waiver – Brittany Jones

Mr. William L. Rouse III "The Barbara Rouse Kentucky Prize": $5,000 – Hyeonjeong Kim

For a student born or educated in Kentucky

The Gail Robinson Musicianship Award: $2,000 – Whitney Myers

Undergraduate Enthusiasm Award: $1,000 – Tanner Hoertz

Undergraduate Musicianship Award: $1,000 – Tomer Eres

Graduate Musicianship Award: $1,000- Wanessa Rodrigues

Undergraduate Encouragement Award: $1,000 – Laura Powell

Graduate Encouragement Award: $1,000 – Aline Araújo

Transfer Student Encouragement Award: $1,000 – Marvin Myer McCoy

For more information, visit http://www.alltech.com/education/university/alltech-opera-program or contact music@alltech.com.