Two pianists, a violinist and a euphonium player make up the newest class of Kenan Music Scholars, who have received full scholarships in music to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill beginning this fall.
Two pianists, a violinist and a euphonium player make up the newest class of Kenan Music Scholars, who have received full scholarships in music to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill beginning this fall.
The 2009 scholars are Ryan Dickey, a euphonium player from Southlake, Texas; Ning Lee, a violinist from Singapore; Crystal Wu, a pianist from Birmingham, Ala.; and Sidney Zaleski, a pianist from Ellicott City, Md.
The students competed against 185 fellow musicians for the merit scholarships in the College of Arts and Sciences. A $4 million endowment created in 2006 by the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust of Chapel Hill funds the awards.
The scholarships, valued at about $70,000 each over four years, cover tuition, fees, room, board and lessons. That amount includes a $6,000 allowance for study abroad, work with a particular performer, internships with elite music groups, attendance at music festivals and other music events, and travel to auditions for graduate school programs.
A faculty committee chose the recipients for academic excellence and outstanding ability in music. The students join seven Kenan Music Scholars who are currently enrolled.
“I couldn’t be more pleased about these wonderful new recruits to the prestigious Kenan Music Scholars Program,” said Tim Carter, David G. Frey Distinguished Professor of music and immediate past department chair. “They rose to the top of the most competitive field ever, and to have so many talented musicians recruited to Carolina from across the nation, and now, the world, is testimony to the wisdom and vision of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust when it endowed this program three years ago.”
Ryan Dickey |
Dickey, the son of Karen and Russell Dickey, graduated from Carroll High School, where he was an officer on the student council and drum major in the band. He was selected for the Texas All-State Band, placed in the 2008 Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, won outstanding piano soloist in the 2008 Texas State Piano Competition and was named outstanding jazz soloist at several Texas jazz festivals. Dickey, who was named Southlake Youth of the Year, is interested in the sciences and is active in community service projects.
Ning Lee |
Lee, the daughter of Xian Yeang Koo and Sian Chong Lee, attended high school at Raffles Junior College in Singapore. She was concertmaster of the Singapore Youth Orchestra, with which she performed in Europe. She has diplomas in violin from Trinity College of Music and the Royal Schools of Music in London, and she has won certificates in the Asian Youth Music Competition. Lee completed a high school curriculum in physics and has volunteered for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore.
Crystal Wu |
Wu, the daughter of Jade and Tony Wu, graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She has won numerous piano competitions and awards from the Music Teachers National Association and the Federation of Music Clubs. She also plays the violin and has studied classical ballet. Wu completed advanced placement credits in U.S. history and art history and is active in her community, doing volunteer work for children with disabilities.
Sid Zaleski |
Zaleski, the son of Annika and Paul Zaleski, was home-schooled and has taken classes at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He studied music in the preparatory division of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he won competitions and presented several recitals. He was a finalist in the New York Piano Competition in 2006 and studied at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy in 2007. Zaleski also plays the violin. He has given voluntary performances at elder hostels and senior centers and received high scores on exams administered by the American Chemical Society.
The William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust was established in 1965 through a bequest of Kenan, a chemist, engineer, industrialist and business executive who graduated from UNC in 1894. The trust supports education across the United States, and, reflecting Kenan’s love of his alma mater, has given generously over the years to Carolina.
College of Arts and Sciences contact: Kim Spurr, (919) 962-4093, spurrk@email.unc.edu
News Services contact: LJ Toler, (919) 962-8589