2018 Scholarship Award Winners
Mr. Mathieu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music in voice performance from Belhaven University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. He earned his Professional Diploma from CCPA in 2020.
John Mathieu, Baritone
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Best Vocal Artist Award in honor of Helen Chastain Sowa
Alan Higgs, Bass-Baritone
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Scholarship Award
Mr. Higgs is a graduate of the Ryan Opera Center of Lyric Opera. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida/New World School of the Arts and a Masters in Music in Voice Performance from Florida State University.
Lauren Decker, Contralto
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Lola Fletcher Scholarship Award
Ms. Decker is a graduate of the Ryan Opera Center of Lyric Opera. She has earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has studied at Up North Vocal Institute and Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.
Mr. Avila has earned a Bachelor in Music Performance from Wichita State University and a Master in Music Performance at DePaul University, where he studied with Olga Kaler. When he won his award, he is principal second violin with the Great Falls Symphony and a member of the Cascade String Quartet in Montana.
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Scholarship Award in honor of Rhonda Buss and Jody Lewis
Luis Avila, Violin
Noel Kim, Violin
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Scholarship Award
Ms. Kim is a graduate of Juilliard Pre-College and at the time of her award, had completed her junior year at Northwestern University. She was a dual degree student in psychology and in violin performance, studying at the Bienen School of Music with Gerardo Ribeiro.
Ms. Ritter holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Valparaiso University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. In 2018, she completed her Professional Diploma in Operatic Performance at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Arthur J. and Glenna B. Collins Scholarship Award
Emma Ritter, Mezzo-Soprano
Samantha Farmilant Grambow, Soprano
2018 American Opera Society of Chicago Scholarship Award
Ms. Farmilant Grambow earned a B.A. in French and College Musical Studies at Oberlin College and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Currently she is studying with Maria Lagios.