ORCHARD PARK — Mitchel Schnaufer, a bassoonist who attends Salamanca High School, placed first in the 56th annual Nan Ackerman Memorial Music Scholarship Competition, receiving $800.
The Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra Women’s Committee held auditions Saturday at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church.
The second place recipient was Amanda Faust, an alto saxophone player who attends Orchard Park High School, receiving $700. Placing third was Conor Ford, a violinist who attends Lancaster High School, receiving $500.
This past fall, Schnaufer was selected to play in the 2023 New York State School Music Association Conference All-State Symphony Orchestra. He has been performing for nine years, studying privately with Paul Furlong. He has been involved in concert band, jazz band, pep band, pit orchestra and Tri-M at Salamanca for six years.
Upon graduation, Schnaufer plans to attend the Fredonia School of Music at SUNY Fredonia this fall as a music major.
Each year since the 1960s, the Women’s Committee sponsors a $2,000 music scholarship competition. Funds are raised through their annual plant sale.
Professional music adjudicators listen to the students and award scholarships accordingly. The recipients use this scholarship towards music camps, private lessons and even new instruments.
The competition audition is open to students in grades nine through 12 who is an instrumentalist, pianist or vocalist and who meet the following requirements: attends either the Orchard Park High School, or an other public or private school and is a resident of Orchard Park; is an immediate family members of Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra musicians; is a member of the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra, a student who studies with an Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra member or is a member of the Southtowns Youth Orchestra.
It is recommended that a competing student be a member of their school music organizations. The participant must be playing at a NYSSMA Level V or VI or its equivalent.
Nan Ackerman, who died in 2020, contributed to the cause both personally and financially. The Symphony Women’s Committee recently named its annual scholarship competition in her honor.
