Lake County Music Education Association awards scholarships

The Lake County Music Education Association awarded scholarships on May 18, totaling $7,500 to six Lake County high school senior musicians planning to major in music.

Receiving scholarship awards are:

• Charles Swietlik, a student of Amir Jones at Harvey High School, has been accepted at Cleveland State University as a Music Education major. His major instrument is Oboe.

• Emmanuel Stewart, a student of Kim Hildack at Harvey High School, has been accepted at Cleveland State University as a Theater Arts major. His major instrument is Voice.

• Autumn Hejduk, a student of Jennifer Calhoun at Madison High School, has been accepted at Cleveland State University as a Music Therapy major. Her major instrument is Voice.

• Gabe Hardman, a student of Stephen Poremba at Mentor High School, has been accepted at Miami University as a Music Composition major. His major instrument is Bass Clarinet.

• Lindsey Kintop, a student of Stephen Poremba at Mentor High School, has been accepted at Bowling Green State University as a Music Education major. Her major instrument is flute.

• Katelyn Marcelli, a student of Jennifer Calhoun at Madison High School, has been accepted at Cleveland State University as a Music Education and Composition major. Her major instrument is Voice.

Due to the pandemic, procedures for applying for a scholarship were adjusted this year, according to a news release from the association.

Scholarship winners were selected based on their applications and video auditions submitted online.

Judges for the scholarships included Tim Niederkorn (LCMEA Scholarship Chairman), Sherry Niederkorn, Kim Hildack, Carol Chenoweth, Matthew Saunders, Glenn Obergefell, Brad Hruska and Devra Levine.

Incoming LCMEA officers are Brad Hruska (Perry Schools), president; Devra Levine (Willoughby-Eastlake Schools), secretary; Kim Hildack (Painesville City Schools), treasurer; and Tim Niederkorn (Willoughby-Eastlake Schools retiree), scholarship chairman.

A search is on for a president-elect.

The Lake County Music Education Association raises money for scholarships through music festivals throughout the year. In addition to scholarships for high students planning to major in music, LCMEA also funds enrichment grants aimed at promoting musical enrichment for larger groups of students.

All music educators in Lake County are de facto LCMEA members and are encouraged to participate in yearly festivals and scheduled meetings.

A date for the LCMEA Marching Band Festival has been set for Sept. 21, 2022, after a two-year hiatus.

Last year’s event was canceled due to weather (not COVID). It will be held at Mentor High School and hosted by Steve Poremba.

A date and location for the LCMEA Choir Festival is still pending.

Anyone wishing to donate to the LCMEA Scholarship Fund, to support the organization’s efforts to financially assist high school seniors majoring in music, may do so by sending a check to “LCMEA” to Treasurer Kim Hildack c/o Harvey High School, 200 W. Walnut Ave., Painesville, Ohio 44077.