MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Two high school seniors have been named scholarship winners by the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra (PRCO). The annual award is given to one or more students following an audition in front of the orchestra’s listening committee, made up of Victor Muenzer, Music Director, and several orchestra members. This year the committee selected Nathan Walhout, cello, a student of Gilda Barston. Nathan attends Wheaton North High School. He has been a member of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, the Wheaton North High School Sinfonia, and played for All Souls’ Anglican Church worship services. Nathan will major in cello performance at a music conservatory beginning this fall.
Nathan’s PRCO Scholarship is the J. Mark Waltz Memorial Scholarship, underwritten by Karin Waltz in honor of her late husband, J. Mark Waltz, a long-time member of the PRCO’s bass section.

The committee also selected Konrad Kowal, violin, a student of Edyta Mrugala. He attends Loyola Academy. Konrad has been a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Loyola Academy Symphony Orchestra, and a guest musician at Park Ridge Presbyterian Church and Mary Seat of Wisdom Church. A resident of the Oriole Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side, Konrad will major in violin performance at DePaul University beginning this fall.
Konrad’s PRCO Scholarship is the Rotary International Educational Scholarship, underwritten by the Rotary Club of Park Ridge.

The PRCO student scholarship auditions are open each year to high school seniors who are instrumentalists. Over the past 22 seasons the PRCO has awarded more than $30,000 in monies to deserving students to continue their musical studies at the college level. In addition to the cash award, winners are often given performing opportunities with the orchestra as in the upcoming May 6 concert, when last year’s winner, Kathryn Chiodo, will play a Mozart concerto. Miss Chiodo is a Park Ridge native who attended Lincoln Middle School and Maine South High School, and is now a student at Northwestern University.

The two winners of this year’s competition will be awarded their scholarships at a ceremony on May 6th at the orchestra’s season finale concert.

The public is invited to attend the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra concert at the historic Pickwick Theatre in Uptown Park Ridge. Reduced ticket prices for seniors, free admission for ages 18 and under, multiple restaurants nearby, and free parking are among the amenities included in the PRCO experience. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.parkridgecivicorchestra.org, or call (847) 692-7726.

Park Ridge Civic Orchestra
Next Concert: Wednesday, May 6, 2015 – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Pickwick Theatre, 5 S. Prospect Av., Park Ridge, IL 60068

Tickets: Seniors $20 (62+), Adults $25, Ages 18 and under Free Admission