Flautist Courtney Adams, a 2020 graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School has won The Mainstay’s 2020 music scholarship competition.
In addition to being active in her high school’s music program, Ms. Adams performs with the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and has been admitted to this year’s Maryland All-State Band. This fall, she will attend the University of Maryland where she will major in Flute Performance. Her lifelong goal is to become a member of a professional symphony orchestra. Her flute teacher Kim Valerio says of Ms. Adams, “She is a naturally gifted flutist with a full focused sound, excellent technique, and a mature concept of musical phrasing.”
In addition to letters of recommendations from their primary music teachers and letters outlining their experience, interests and plans for further study, each candidate in the competition submitted an audition video posted to YouTube to showcase two pieces of music of contrasting styles. Each candidate was judged on technical facility, musical interpretation, and artistic presentation.
Mainstay Programming Manager John Thomas (also on the music faculty of Washington College) says, “Although we had a highly competitive group of applicants this year, Courtney was the clear winner. Not only is she a great performer, but she has a clear vision for what she wants to do with her future, and how her music-making will be part of that future.”
In addition to presenting an eclectic mix of live music at its venue in Rock Hall, Kent County, The Mainstay is committed to providing educational experiences and opportunities for students. Executive Director Carol Colgate notes that “music education develops other attributes as well, such as creativity, discipline, perseverance, composure and collaboration. We hope our engagement with students encourages and fosters not only a high level of technical and performance abilities, but a lifelong appreciation of music for a whole generation of students. ”
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~ Mainstay, Rock Hall