The Bruce Montgomery Foundation lived up to its promise on October 26, 2018 at South Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, where 150 attendees experienced a “magical evening of music and entertainment!”.
Our fifth annual Winners Showcase celebrated five uniquely talented musicians by awarding four new $2500 Springboard Grants to fund special projects or urgent needs that go beyond the protocols of traditional scholarships.
Congratulations to our 2018 grant recipients for their talent, their passion, and their artistic excellence. Our grant process is competitive, and every application was given careful consideration. Ten finalists were invited for personal interviews with our Grants Committee prior to the selection of this year’s winners. We are proud to introduce you to them now. The first grant was split equally between two brothers, one a sophomore and the other a junior, in high school.
Braden Ellis, Double & Electric Bass
Braden Ellis, age 16, is a double bassist and a member of the Youth Chamber Orchestra at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians and principal bassist in the University of Pennsylvania’s Symphony Orchestra. He also plays upright and electric bass in the Kimmel Center’s Creative Music Program for Jazz. He is a two-time participant in Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra-2 (NYO2) program, and has attended summer programs at Interlochen, BUTI, Brevard, Luzerne Music Center, and Curtis Summerfest. Braden is also a three-time recipient of the Marian Anderson Grant Award and performed with his quintet and with the house band at their gala honoring Dionne Warwick. He is an 11th-grade homeschooled student dually enrolled at Drexel University and his local community college. He is a proud PMAY and Primavera Foundation Artist. Braden also enjoys science and has been a teacher’s assistant for Science Explorers, interned with local game developers, and participated in WHYY’s Documentary Production program. He will use his Springboard Grant toward the purchase of the double bass he currently uses on loan from the Primavera Foundation. Learn More…
Pierce Ellis, Viola
Peirce Ellis, age 15, is in tenth grade, 6’8” tall, home-schooled, and dually enrolled in courses at Drexel University and his local community college. He is a violist and has performed across the United States. He plays viola in the Youth Chamber Orchestra at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians and has performed nationally with the Perfect Fourth Quartet through the Sphinx Organization, including at the White House for Michelle Obama. Like his brother, he is a three-time recipient of the Marian Anderson Grant Award. After training with Project 440, he co-designed and presented a classical music program for Philadelphia elementary school students. He attended summer programs at NYO2 (performing at Carnegie Hall), Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), Luzerne Music Center, and the Sphinx Performance Academy in Chicago and Cleveland. Peirce is a student of Kerri Ryan, assistant principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. During the summer of 2016 he represented the United States at a two-week leadership program at the International School of Karuizawa in Japan with middle school students from 30 different countries. Peirce is a proud PMAY and Primavera Foundation Artist. He plans to use his grant toward the purchase of his treasured viola (currently on loan). Learn more…
Alyssa Garcia, Song Writer-Singer-Pianist
Alyssa Garcia is a Philadelphia-based award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist with an alternative pop sound. Living by the mantra “Music is the cure”, she strives to use her original music as an outlet of positivity. With inspirations such as Regina Spektor and Sara Bareilles, Garcia pens soulful tunes telling personal stories her audience can often relate to. Garcia has released several EPs and one full length album entitled, “three little words”. Currently, two tracks on her album (“Loved Actually” and “Better Life”) are featured in the film Getting Grace, directed by Daniel Roebuck. Additionally, Garcia won the Philadelphia Songwriters Project’s Annual contest in 2015 with her song “Better Life”. Her song “Sincerely, Me”, also featured on her newest album, won the 2018 “93.7FM Hometown Heroes: Homey Award” for best Pop song. Garcia continues to perform at various venues and has opened for notable artists such as GRAMMY Nominee Crash Test Dummies, American Idol Finalist Bucky Covington, and the eighth season winner of “the Voice”, Sawyer Fredericks. Alyssa is a freshman at Drexel University majoring in music and the recording arts. She will use her grant to purchase a Mac computer capable of music editing and other skills required of her technically-oriented major. This will give her autonomy and control not always available working in the sophisticated, but time-scheduled, atmosphere of a college lab. Learn more…
Eva Martinez (Soprano)
Eva is a soprano from Central Bucks High School West where she is a senior. She has been studying voice for eight years and her passion for music has grown into a determination to pursue an opera career. She likes to share her love of music with others, whether it be through choir, through competitions, or playing flute in her school’s jazz band. Outside of school she is a member of the Boheme Opera Company of New Jersey, the Bucks County Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and the choir at St. Paul’s Church in Doylestown. She has also participated in numerous PMEA festivals for both voice and flute. Eva intends to apply to several top music schools, including the Julliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, Mannes School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music and the Boston Conservatory. An important part of a student’s final school decision is based upon finding the “perfect teacher,” which involves travel expenses and producing high-quality demo audition recordings, as well as taking (and paying for) sample lessons with certain teachers at each potential institution. Eva intends to use her Springboard Grant to defray expenses associated with this very costly, but required, college music application process.
Samuel Nebyu, Violin
Samuel Nebyu is a 24-year-old Belgian of Ethiopian-Hungarian descent, currently living in Philadelphia as a second-year Masters student majoring in Violin Performance at Temple University’s Boyer School of Music & Dance. Throughout his studies he has been exclusively practicing and performing solo works. He has traveled around the world and participated in international competitions where he has received numerous awards and prizes. He was fortunate last year to have a solo CD produced by Temple University, entitled “Music of Composers of African Descent.” This album received the “Album of the Week” award at Philadelphia’s classical music station (WRTI), and again at San Francisco’s radio station (KDFC). It was during the production of this album that Samuel realized his true passion and goal: to discover and represent composers of African descent. Because Samuel himself is of African Descent, this project is a personal one. The joy that his CD produced, and the immense interest generated among numerous musicians, convinced him to pursue this as his primary focus. He wants to produce more recordings and organize concert series that will showcase and open the eyes of the public to a treasure trove of previously unknown works. He will use his Springboard Grant to research and market his dream. Listen to Samuel by Googling “Samuel Nebyu.”
The Event
BMFA thanks Roger Artigiani and Christy Bottie of the 2300 Arena for so generously contributing and sponsoring the perfect venue for our gala fundraiser. Cocktail hour and tantalizing hors d’oeuvres set the stage with the piano wizardry of Dean Schneider (Philadelphia’s jazz icon). Attendees were treated to a wonderful gourmet dinner sponsored by 12th Street Catering, and comfortably seated – cabaret-style – in an attractive setting also generously supplied and sponsored by South Jersey Party Rental. We thank all three of our sponsors for their heartfelt commitment to the work we are doing.
Our Winners Showcase began with presentations by BMFA’s 2017 Springboard Grant recipients, each of whom explained how they benefitted from their grants and then “wowed” an enthusiastic audience with their polished, exciting performances.
Aryssa Leigh Burrs, Mezzo-Soprano:
Aryssa Leigh Burrs graduated from the University of Maryland, majoring in Music Education and specializing in Choral/General and Vocal Performance. She is now earning her Master’s Degree at Northwestern University as an opera vocal performance major. Last summer she was selected as an Emerging Artist with the Seagle Music Colony at Schroon Lake, located in the Adirondack Mountains. While there, she sang the role of Nireno in Handel’s Julius Caesar and took a “star turn” playing the title role in Mame to rave reviews. Her mother, Carol Evans, graciously introduced a video Aryssa had prepared for us explaining how she benefitted from her Springboard Grant. An audition in New York City prevented her from attending our Winners Showcase. After Aryssa’s video speech we were treated to her senior recital performance (at Maryland) of Stephen Sondheim’s “The Glamorous Life” from A Little Night Music.
Franklin Learning Center High School, Michelle Frank, Director:
Michelle Frank’s speech and the video clip of Franklin Learning Center High School’s production of “Pippin” last spring, along with the presence of student Dylan Stewart and a fine vocal performance by his fellow-student, Trinity Rosario, of “I’m Not Afraid of Anything,” succeeded in “blowing the audience away” at the 2300 Arena! Michelle credited BMFA with the good fortune that has come to her school. As a result of the “Pippin” production, the school has scheduled and financed rights for 2 full length musicals, Songs For a New World on December 13th and 14th and Sister Act in April, 2019. Additionally, the school earned a $50,000 allotment from the School District of Philadelphia specifically for the Performing Arts Department this year with the intention that it will be a repeated sum in the years to come. According to Michelle, “Our first project, a new cyclorama for our stage, is being installed in three weeks. The school district also replaced all of our stage curtains at the beginning of this year. Recently we learned that Sheldon Bonovitz has adopted our school and is making a $10,000/per year investment in our Arts programs for the next three years. The Bruce Montgomery Foundation’s grant was a true springboard for us in that it was a big part of what made all of this happen.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vZyE8hCKvw.
William Mason Fredendall, Flutist:
Will Fredendall, a senior at Central Bucks High School West, has studied the flute for eight years, and has recently learned the saxophone as a jazz instrument. He currently plays in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and also in his school jazz band. In the past he has been a member of the PEMA Orchestra and Band, and also joined a non-profit local band, “Jazz for Nuthin’.” In the summers of 2017 and 2018 he was part of the Eastman Summer Jazz Studies program, playing flute and saxophone. He was also the recipient of the Doylestown Symphonic Winds Scholarship. Among Will’s many Junior year accomplishments were his starring role as Rolf in Central Bucks High School West’s performance of The Sound of Music, and his stellar performance as first-chair flute and soloist in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s performance of Leonard Bernstein’s “Westside Story Suite” in Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center. Most recently he has joined the trio “Django.” Will’s BMFA Grant enabled him to participate in all of these programs and he is now going through the rigorous audition process for college and conservatory programs. His entertaining speech at our Winner’s Showcase explained the diversity of advice he has received about the best way to study the flute, followed by an impressive performance of “Litha” by Chick Corea, accompanied by pianist Dan Green
Emma Murphy graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School last June and is now a freshman at the Jacobs School of Music at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, where she is an opera vocal performance major. She was a dedicated member of the Philadelphia Girls’ Choir for three years. Within the organization she participated in their annual Opera Camp and studied voice at their vocal conservatory. Emma was a participant in the Opera Children’s Chorus with the Crested Butte Music Festival’s Opera in Paradise, Colorado as well as a participant in the 2017 OAKE (Organization of American Kodály Educators) National Choir in Philadelphia. Emma was also too far away to attend our Winners Showcase on October 26th. However, her mother, Laura Murphy, introduced Emma’s appealing video to our attendees and described the arduous process of applying to music schools. Emma tells us how she benefitted from her Springboard Grant on the video link below and sings “Amorosi Miei Giorni” by Stefano Donaudy.
Full Life Music Association, Richard Ling, Founder:
Last year the Foundation awarded an Honorable Mention to Richard, whose newly-formed non-profit gives musicians an outlet to impact their community, practice their performance skills, and touch the lives of children and the elderly. Richard informed the audience that Musicians for FLMA are volunteers from all over Philadelphia, including the University of Pennsylvania, the Curtis Institute of Music, and Swarthmore University. These musicians perform in locations such as the Penn Children’s Center, the Penn Rehab & Care Center, the Philadelphia Nursing Home, and the Ronald McDonald House. According to Richard, “FLMA is dedicated to expanding musical altruism on performance at a time.”
The final chapter of the evening was a fascinating sit-down interview on stage, entitled “Launching a Career,” with Cole Redding, our 2015 Springboard Grant Winner.
The final chapter of the evening, accompanied by delicious desserts and coffee, was a fascinating sit-down interview on stage, entitled “Launching a Career,” between Philadelphia journalist, Tracey Matisak, and Cole Redding, our 2015 winner who is quickly emerging as an up-and-coming pop star.
Cole’s first single “Father, Father” from his first album, Nothing Left Unsaid, quickly climbed the charts, and his newest single, “Do it!” is on its way there. Our Winner’s Showcase was topped off by Cole’s fabulous performance with his newly formed and very talented band, winning kudos from an enthusiastic crowd “wanting more.”
Liz.
Liz Montgomery Thomas
Executive Director
