AMCA Scholarship Winners 1999

Meet the 1999-2000 AMCA Scholarship Winners

The AMCA Scholarship Committee is pleased to present to our membership the successful winners of our Scholarships for the academic year 1999 - 2000. Sixteen applications were considered by the Evaluators and the following students are the top six qualifiers. Our congratulations to these outstanding young musicians! (See Scholarship winners 99 announced!)

Joshua Radecke
is this year's winner of The Lester Axdahl Scholarship Award.
Joshua is currently a Senior at Georgia Southern University. Many of our members will recall Joshua's impressive performance at the Friday evening concert at the International Big Sing held in Buffalo in 1998. Among his many outstanding musical accomplishments, Joshua was chosen to perform in the National Festival of Gold Select Choirs at the Kennedy Centre in Washington.
Future: "I aspire to become a teacher who inspires young people to reach their full potential as human beings.
Joshua is sponsored by the Choristers of Eric Maennerchor.
This is his third AMCA scholarship. ($800)

Giles Tomkins
is currently a Sophomore at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. In June '99, Giles placed first in the Voice Diploma Class at the Ontario Music Festival Association Provincial Finals. He is currently involved in a number of choirs, including the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir (Bass Section Head) and the Toronto Children's Chorus Alumni Choir.
Future: "Perhaps sing with an opera company. I also aspire to give back some of the musical skills that I have been taught. Being a vocal coach at a university or conducting a community choir would be both a thrill and a challenge for me."
Giles is sponsored by The Queensmen of Toronto Male Chorus.
This is his first AMCA scholarship. ($500)

Bjorn Arneson
is a Senior at Augustana College. Bjorn is a three-year member of the Augustana Choir, one of the top choral ensembles in the Midwest. They have toured internationally to Austria and Norway, and another European tour is planned for this coming summer. He is currently the Vice-President of the choir. Bjorn is the grandson of Lester Axdahl, former Treasurer of AMCA.
Future: "I aspire to be satisfied wherever God may lead me. However, whether He leads me to a career in church music, education, piano tuning, or professional golfing, I know that music will always play an enormous part in my life."
Bjorn is sponsored by the Marshall Area Men's Chorus.
This is his first AMCA scholarship. ($500)

Will Stensrud
is a Senior at the University of Northern Iowa. Will has enjoyed many outstanding music accomplishments over his high school and college years. This past February he was a National Finalist in the American Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Competition. Will won the State Division in this same competition in 1997. This school year he will complete his music education studies and student-teach in Davenport, Iowa during the Spring semester.
Future: 'I feel that all my wonderful musical (specifically choral) experiences have fostered my excitement for music education."
Will is sponsored by the Cold Spring Area Maennerchor.
This is the fourth scholarship awarded to Will by AMCA. ($500)

Karen Pinkney
is a Freshman at Pensacola Christian College. Karen's high school years have found her very involved in many musical activities. She placed first in the High School Division (Female Voice) in her church's state-wide Talents for Christ Competition. As well, Karen received first prize piano, Senior Division at the Ole Bull Music Festival and was invited to play in Carnegie Hall.
Future: "I hope to use my musical abilities to encourage and minister to others, possibly as a music teacher. Music is my passion, and I don't want to see future generations lose sight of the strength of music."
Karen is sponsored by the Mansfield Men's Chorus.
This is her first AMCA scholarship. ($500)

Katie Butler
is a Freshman at Viterbo College. Throughout her high school years Katie was actively involved in drama, musical theatre and her school's showchoir the "Company of Singers". This choir travelled throughout the Midwest to various competitions. Over the past years Katie has won many awards for her solo performances and this past spring she was named Best Female Soloist at Winterfest, in Eau Claire. Katie was also involved in the National Honors Society.
Future: "In college, I hope to continue to learn more about myself and how to develop my skills to succeed in my goals."
Katie is sponsored by the Minneapolis Knights of Columbus Male Chorus.
This is Katie's first scholarship from AMCA. ($500)

	Joshua Radecke is this year's winner of The Lester Axdahl Scholarship Award. Joshua is currently a Senior at Georgia Southern University. Many of our members will recall Joshua's impressive performance at the Friday evening concert at the International Big Sing held in Buffalo in 1998. Among his many outstanding musical accomplishments, Joshua was chosen to perform in the National Festival of Gold Select Choirs at the Kennedy Centre in Washington. Future: "I aspire to become a teacher who inspires young people to reach their full potential as human beings. Joshua is sponsored by the Choristers of Eric Maennerchor. This is his third AMCA scholarship. ($800)
	Giles Tomkins is currently a Sophomore at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. In June '99, Giles placed first in the Voice Diploma Class at the Ontario Music Festival Association Provincial Finals. He is currently involved in a number of choirs, including the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir (Bass Section Head) and the Toronto Children's Chorus Alumni Choir. Future: "Perhaps sing with an opera company. I also aspire to give back some of the musical skills that I have been taught. Being a vocal coach at a university or conducting a community choir would be both a thrill and a challenge for me." Giles is sponsored by The Queensmen of Toronto Male Chorus. This is his first AMCA scholarship. ($500)
	Bjorn Arneson is a Senior at Augustana College. Bjorn is a three-year member of the Augustana Choir, one of the top choral ensembles in the Midwest. They have toured internationally to Austria and Norway, and another European tour is planned for this coming summer. He is currently the Vice-President of the choir. Bjorn is the grandson of Lester Axdahl, former Treasurer of AMCA. Future: "I aspire to be satisfied wherever God may lead me. However, whether He leads me to a career in church music, education, piano tuning, or professional golfing, I know that music will always play an enormous part in my life." Bjorn is sponsored by the Marshall Area Men's Chorus. This is his first AMCA scholarship. ($500)
	Will Stensrud is a Senior at the University of Northern Iowa. Will has enjoyed many outstanding music accomplishments over his high school and college years. This past February he was a National Finalist in the American Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Competition. Will won the State Division in this same competition in 1997. This school year he will complete his music education studies and student-teach in Davenport, Iowa during the Spring semester. Future: 'I feel that all my wonderful musical (specifically choral) experiences have fostered my excitement for music education." Will is sponsored by the Cold Spring Area Maennerchor. This is the fourth scholarship awarded to Will by AMCA. ($500)
	Karen Pinkney is a Freshman at Pensacola Christian College. Karen's high school years have found her very involved in many musical activities. She placed first in the High School Division (Female Voice) in her church's state-wide Talents for Christ Competition. As well, Karen received first prize piano, Senior Division at the Ole Bull Music Festival and was invited to play in Carnegie Hall. Future: "I hope to use my musical abilities to encourage and minister to others, possibly as a music teacher. Music is my passion, and I don't want to see future generations lose sight of the strength of music." Karen is sponsored by the Mansfield Men's Chorus. This is her first AMCA scholarship. ($500)
	Katie Butler is a Freshman at Viterbo College. Throughout her high school years Katie was actively involved in drama, musical theatre and her school's showchoir the "Company of Singers". This choir travelled throughout the Midwest to various competitions. Over the past years Katie has won many awards for her solo performances and this past spring she was named Best Female Soloist at Winterfest, in Eau Claire. Katie was also involved in the National Honors Society. Future: "In college, I hope to continue to learn more about myself and how to develop my skills to succeed in my goals." Katie is sponsored by the Minneapolis Knights of Columbus Male Chorus. This is Katie's first scholarship from AMCA. ($500)