Illinois Violinist Wins Guild Scholarship

Violinist Anna Stenzel of Illinois earned top honors at the fifth annual Music Guild Competition March 4, where six high school seniors competed for Westmont music scholarships. Stenzel won the Guild Scholarship, receiving $10,000 in annual music scholarship funds (up to $40,000 over four years) to study at Westmont, in addition to her initial violin scholarship award and Presidential Academic Scholarship. The other finalists, violinists Jenna Walters of Knoxville and Christina Dubell of Orange County; violist Cameron Audras of Oak Park; cellist Logan Hodson of Sierra Madre and vocalist Elaina Crenshaw of Ventura, each received $10,000 in total music scholarship as well as a Ruth Kerr Memorial Scholarship, two Presidential Scholarships and two Augustinian Scholarships.

“There were wonderful performances by each of the prospective students, challenging the judges to select a winner,” says Michael Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship. “There were enthusiastic performances by former guild finalists during the deliberations, and a spirit of great camaraderie among all the student musicians.”

For the past six years, Stenzel has performed with the Midwest Young Artists (MYA) Youth Orchestra in Highwood, Ill., serving as concertmaster. She has performed with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra.

“The Music Guild awards have helped numerous highly talented students attend Westmont and they have helped enhance the musical culture of our community,” Shasberger says. “Through the years, 15 finalists have enrolled at Westmont and contributed to the choirs, orchestra and life of the music department.”

The Guild Scholarship program is funded by The Guild for Music at Westmont. For information about becoming a Guild member or any aspect of this competition, please contact the Westmont Music Office at (805) 565-6040.