2018 Scholarship Applications are being accepted until April 1
2017 OACC SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
The Oneida Area Civic Chorale has awarded its 2017 Senior Scholarship to Kevin Spooner of Cottage Place, Oneida. Spooner, a senior student at Oneida High School, will receive $500 toward his future study of music. The Chorale offers the scholarships to area high school seniors who have displayed musical talent in school and community performances and plan to engage in musical study beyond high school either as music majors or in extracurricular areas.
Spooner, primarily a vocalist, has taken advantage of numerous music opportunities since elementary school in Oneida.. At Oneida High School, he has been a member of the Mixed Chorus, Chamber Choir and Concert Choir and is currently the president of the Concert Choir. He has participated in the NYSSMA solo festival, earning a vocal score of “100” each year. He has also been selected to All-County Mixed Chorus, Area All State Mixed chorus, and All State Mixed chorus, and NAFME All-Eastern Honors Mixed Chorus. In addition, Spooner has been a member of the American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA) Junior and Senior Honor Choirs in Baltimore, Boston, and most recently in Minneapolis.
During his years at OHS, Spooner has been active in the Drama Club musicals, appearing in Forbidden Broadway, Mary Poppins, The Addams Family as lead Gomez Addams, and this year’s production of Les Miserables, appearing in the lead role of Jean Valjean. In addition, he has studied the trumpet for nine years and is a member and president of the Wind Ensemble, and plays in the OHS Jazz Band.
Outside the school setting, Spooner studied at the piano studio of Deborah Guarneiri for two years. He has studied voice with Lauralyn Kolb at Hamilton College since 2013, and has performed with the Hamilton College Masterworks Choral in 2015 and 2016. He has been a member of the Jr. B# Club in Utica for two years, and attended the Vocal Institute at Westminster College in 2015 and 2016. Spooner shares his talent in the community on multiple occasions, performing as soloist and cantor at St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s Churches in Oneida, guest artist at Utica College, Oneida Presbyterian Church, Oneida Memorial Day Parade, and many other venues and events.
Spooner intends to continue his music education at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He will participate in a double major program which includes Vocal Music Performance at Eastman and Psychology through the University of Rochester. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue a performing career that will take him to national and international venues, followed by subsequent careers in the teaching of music or music therapy.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, Spooner is currently in the top two of his graduating class. According to his OHS vocal director, Mrs. Heather O’Connell, “Kevin is a wonderful young man, with an excellent work ethic and a true passion for singing.” He will receive the Chorale Scholarship and perform for the Chorale at one of its rehearsals in May.
Spooner, primarily a vocalist, has taken advantage of numerous music opportunities since elementary school in Oneida.. At Oneida High School, he has been a member of the Mixed Chorus, Chamber Choir and Concert Choir and is currently the president of the Concert Choir. He has participated in the NYSSMA solo festival, earning a vocal score of “100” each year. He has also been selected to All-County Mixed Chorus, Area All State Mixed chorus, and All State Mixed chorus, and NAFME All-Eastern Honors Mixed Chorus. In addition, Spooner has been a member of the American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA) Junior and Senior Honor Choirs in Baltimore, Boston, and most recently in Minneapolis.
During his years at OHS, Spooner has been active in the Drama Club musicals, appearing in Forbidden Broadway, Mary Poppins, The Addams Family as lead Gomez Addams, and this year’s production of Les Miserables, appearing in the lead role of Jean Valjean. In addition, he has studied the trumpet for nine years and is a member and president of the Wind Ensemble, and plays in the OHS Jazz Band.
Outside the school setting, Spooner studied at the piano studio of Deborah Guarneiri for two years. He has studied voice with Lauralyn Kolb at Hamilton College since 2013, and has performed with the Hamilton College Masterworks Choral in 2015 and 2016. He has been a member of the Jr. B# Club in Utica for two years, and attended the Vocal Institute at Westminster College in 2015 and 2016. Spooner shares his talent in the community on multiple occasions, performing as soloist and cantor at St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s Churches in Oneida, guest artist at Utica College, Oneida Presbyterian Church, Oneida Memorial Day Parade, and many other venues and events.
Spooner intends to continue his music education at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He will participate in a double major program which includes Vocal Music Performance at Eastman and Psychology through the University of Rochester. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue a performing career that will take him to national and international venues, followed by subsequent careers in the teaching of music or music therapy.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, Spooner is currently in the top two of his graduating class. According to his OHS vocal director, Mrs. Heather O’Connell, “Kevin is a wonderful young man, with an excellent work ethic and a true passion for singing.” He will receive the Chorale Scholarship and perform for the Chorale at one of its rehearsals in May.
