Alltech/UK Vocal Scholarship Contest Winners Named
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 16, 2009) − The nation’s top young opera singers
vied for highly-coveted prizes at the 2009 Alltech Vocal
Scholarship Competition held earlier this month at the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts. More
than 12 winners from the popular competition may soon lend their voices to UK Opera Theatre.
The event, which awarded more than $300,000 in opera scholarships and prizes, included four grand prize categories awarded to graduate and undergraduate student vocalists by Alltech; Bryant’s Rent-All and UK Opera Theatre. Winners were selected by a panel of five judges not affiliated with Alltech or the university, and were announced at the competition’s conclusion.
Graduate students vied for two Alltech Graduate prizes that include full UK graduate assistantships and prize money. The first place winner earns an additional $10,000 cash award and the second place winner receives an additional $7,500 cash award. The first place graduate winner is Dione N. Johnson, a soprano from Jackson, Tenn., currently pursuing a graduate degree at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the second place graduate winner is Byron Johnson, a baritone from Jackson, Miss., currently pursuing a degree at Mississippi College.
Undergraduates vied for two awards presented by UK Opera Theatre and Bryant's Rent-All. The awards include full UK undergraduate (tuition) scholarships with first place receiving an additional $5,000 cash award and second place receiving an additional $2,500 cash award. The first place undergraduate winner is Elizabeth Maurey, a soprano from Brazil, Ind. As a junior, Maurey won last year’s Schmidt Youth Vocal Competition in Indiana. The second place undergraduate winner is Keymon W. Murrah, a tenor from Louisville, Ky.
Several other cash prizes and scholarships were presented to students at both the undergraduate and graduate level by Lexington businesses and organizations. Winners of these additional prizes are as follows:
The event, which awarded more than $300,000 in opera scholarships and prizes, included four grand prize categories awarded to graduate and undergraduate student vocalists by Alltech; Bryant’s Rent-All and UK Opera Theatre. Winners were selected by a panel of five judges not affiliated with Alltech or the university, and were announced at the competition’s conclusion.
Graduate students vied for two Alltech Graduate prizes that include full UK graduate assistantships and prize money. The first place winner earns an additional $10,000 cash award and the second place winner receives an additional $7,500 cash award. The first place graduate winner is Dione N. Johnson, a soprano from Jackson, Tenn., currently pursuing a graduate degree at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the second place graduate winner is Byron Johnson, a baritone from Jackson, Miss., currently pursuing a degree at Mississippi College.
Undergraduates vied for two awards presented by UK Opera Theatre and Bryant's Rent-All. The awards include full UK undergraduate (tuition) scholarships with first place receiving an additional $5,000 cash award and second place receiving an additional $2,500 cash award. The first place undergraduate winner is Elizabeth Maurey, a soprano from Brazil, Ind. As a junior, Maurey won last year’s Schmidt Youth Vocal Competition in Indiana. The second place undergraduate winner is Keymon W. Murrah, a tenor from Louisville, Ky.
Several other cash prizes and scholarships were presented to students at both the undergraduate and graduate level by Lexington businesses and organizations. Winners of these additional prizes are as follows:
- Ellen Graham, a mezzo soprano from Ft. Wright, Ky., winner of "The Barbara Rouse Kentucky Prize," a $5,000 cash prize from Mr. William L. Rouse III;
- Matthew Gamble, a baritone from Kennesaw, Ga., winner of the "Outstanding Transfer Student Award," a $1,500 cash prize presented by Powell, Walton, Millward Insurance, a division of J. Smith Lanier & Co., plus full tuition awarded by UK;
- Jondra A. Harmon, a mezzo soprano from Stafford, Va., winner of the "Best Communicator Award," a cash prize of $1,000;
- Cristine M. Jobson, a soprano from Miami, Fla., and Kaymon Murrah, a tenor from Louisville, winners of the "Encouragement Award," $500 cash prizes presented by BIO-CAT Inc.
- Dione Johnson, winner of the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) First Place Graduate Award, a $2,200 prize toward tuition at the AIMS Institute in Graz, Austria, and winner of the Kentucky Opera Prize, a future Main Stage role with the Kentucky Opera;
- Byron Johnson, winner of the AIMS Second Place Graduate Award, a $2,200 prize toward tuition at the AIMS Institute;
- Samuel A. McDonald, a baritone from Montclair, N.J., winner of the AIMS Second Place Graduate Award, a $2,200 prize toward tuition at the AIMS Institute, and winner of the "Musicianship Award," a cash prize of $1,500 presented by Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC;
- Maurey, winner of the AIMS First Place Undergraduate Award, a $1,750 prize toward tuition at the AIMS Institute; and
- Keymon W. Murrah, winner of the AIMS Second Place Undergraduate Award, a $1,750 prize toward tuition at the AIMS Institute.
To receive these scholarship awards, each
winner must agree to attend UK.
Alltech, which began spearheading the competition in 2006, continues to demonstrate its commitment to the community through support of organizations and educational institutions like the UK School of Music, home to UK Opera Theatre. "Thanks to the generous support of Alltech and the strong backing of the university, the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition continues placing UK Opera Theatre in the top-tier for recruitment of the best young vocalists in the country,” said Everett McCorvey, director of UK Opera Theatre.
Alltech is a global animal health company providing natural, nutritional solutions to the feed and food industries. Founded in 1980 by Pearse Lyons, the company is now involved in 85 countries. Alltech is headquartered in Nicholasville, Ky., with a strong regional presence in North America, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
Alltech, which began spearheading the competition in 2006, continues to demonstrate its commitment to the community through support of organizations and educational institutions like the UK School of Music, home to UK Opera Theatre. "Thanks to the generous support of Alltech and the strong backing of the university, the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition continues placing UK Opera Theatre in the top-tier for recruitment of the best young vocalists in the country,” said Everett McCorvey, director of UK Opera Theatre.
Alltech is a global animal health company providing natural, nutritional solutions to the feed and food industries. Founded in 1980 by Pearse Lyons, the company is now involved in 85 countries. Alltech is headquartered in Nicholasville, Ky., with a strong regional presence in North America, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific.