Vocal Scholarship Program
About the Saratoga Voices Vocal Scholarship Program
Every year Saratoga Voices Inc. (SV), formerly known as Burnt Hills Oratorio Society Inc. (BHOS), awards vocal scholarships to two local high school seniors. The SV Vocal Scholarship Program was started in 1998 by its Artistic Director at the time, Rand Reeves, and has become fundamental to Saratoga Voices’ mission to promote choral singing in the community.
Applicants need not be planning a career in music, but the scholarships are intended to facilitate the continued study of singing in undergraduate institutions. The winners will also have an opportunity to perform in a future Saratoga Voices concert.
Over 50 scholarships have been awarded over the years. One winner became a national opera star, and many others have enjoyed professional solo careers. Saratoga Voices is proud to showcase their talent on a regular basis.
Saratoga Voices Mission Statement
Saratoga Voices embraces the choral arts within a vibrant, collaborative, and skill-nurturing environment, striving for excellence in choral performances, including diverse artists and audiences to share the joy and power of singing.
“If it involves singing, we love to do it”
Dr. William Jon Gray, Former Artistic Director, Saratoga Voices
Awards
First place $1,500
Second place $1,000
The winners shall provide to Saratoga Voices the address of the college or university program to which they have been accepted. The scholarships will be forwarded, in their names, directly to the institutions.
What Do I Sing?
- Applicants will perform two selections. One work shall be from the current NYSSMA Manual level 6 (or a similar work adhering to those requirements) from the classical music repertoire. The other work shall be the student’s choosing (musical theater selections are allowed, but not commercialized music).
- Applicants must perform the works by memory.
- Applicants must provide their own accompanist. Taped accompaniments are not allowed.
How are the winners determined?
- The applicants will be judged by two adjudicators who are professionals in the school music industry.
- The applicants will be judged on a points basis, using criteria similar to those used by the NYSSMA solo adjudications.
- Points will be tabulated following the last applicant and the winners will be determined shortly thereafter.
- Applicants will be notified on the same day of the competition.
- All singers will receive their adjudicated performance assessment, including strengths and recommendations, regardless of their winning status.
Have questions
Please contact the committee at
- (518) 416-4060
- students@saratogavoices.org
Previous Vocal Scholarship Winners
| Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Maria Sablich | 2022 |
| Shea DeWan | 2022 |
| Maxwell Novik | 2022 |
| Theodore Van de Ven IV | 2021 |
| Brigid Mack | 2021 |
| Zachary Simpson | 2020 |
| Alexa Rahman | 2020 |
| Sophie Mathis | 2019 |
| Abigail Evans | 2019 |
| Phoebe Reuther | 2018 |
| Nicholas Conti | 2018 |
| Alicia Esposito | 2017 |
| Marissa Scotti | 2017 |
| Kaeli Heffner | 2016 |
| Marissa Scotti | 2016 |
| Emily Martin | 2015 |
| Jacob O’Shea | 2015 |
| Ashley Marie Rickson | 2014 |
| Nicole Rizzo | 2014 |
| Joseph Davila | 2013 |
| Lauren Silberstein | 2013 |
| Rebecca Iris Rogers | 2012 |
| Alexandra Rizzo | 2012 |
| Dan Lyng | 2011 |
| Kara Cregin | 2011 |
| Margaret VanNorden | 2010 |
| John Leighton | 2010 |
| Margaret Flanigan | 2009 |
| Sean Teeter | 2009 |
| Rhiannon LaCrosse | 2008 |
| Siddharth Dubey | 2008 |
| Laura MacAvoy | 2007 |
| Alexander Turpin | 2007 |
| Emily Foster | 2006 |
| Leila Gheiter | 2006 |
| Trevor Strader | 2005 |
| Mary Kate vom Lehn | 2005 |
| Elizabeth Picker | 2004 |
| Jesse Conti | 2004 |
| Peter Marler | 2003 |
| Julie Norman | 2003 |
| Emalie Savoy | 2002 |
| Hannah Lewis | 2002 |
| Julie Giguere | 2001 |
| Joanna Koslowsky | 2001 |
| Laura Puzio | 2000 |
| Patrice Godshalk | 2000 |
| McCaela Curran | 1999 |
| Laura Longe | 1999 |
| John Bragle | 1998 |
| Rebecca Minor | 1998 |
