The Foothills Music Club takes pleasure in announcing its 2013 scholarship winners following auditions held March 1-2.

The first place winner and recipient of the Lesley Oakes Scholarship is Rachel Richards of Shelby, N.C.
She is a senior at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and studies cello with Kathleen Foster of Rutherfordton, a member of the Foothills Music Club.

Richards plays with the First Baptist Shelby Orchestra, the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra and the orchestra at her school. She auditioned on a recently acquired cello whose purchase was funded in part by FMC scholarship awards.

Second place winner and recipient of the Betty Van Buskirk Scholarship is Paulina Ray-Zorick, playing the piano and singing. Ray-Zorick is a resident of Columbus and is a home-schooled 12th grader. She has studied music for 11 years and is currently a student of Judy Loveland of Hendersonville in piano, violin and voice.
Ray-Zorick is also a participant in the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra and has performed locally in several venues.
Recipient of the third place, Kathleen Erwin scholarship is Katherine Barker of Tryon, on alto saxophone.
A student at Polk County High School, she plays in the band under the direction of Cindy Gilbert and has also participated in All District Band.

A special scholarship for vocal performance in memory of FMC member Grace Bley has been awarded to Katherine Riedy of Campobello.
A home-schooled student, she studies voice in Tryon with Mary Meyers of the FMC. She has participated in many local productions with Tryon Little Theater, as well as the S.C. Children’s Theatre.

Receiving honorable mention were two auditioners – Stephen Stimac from PCHS, playing trumpet, and Ariana Jackson from Landrum High School on piano.
Both are members of their school bands and have also studied privately.