Palos Verdes/South Bay Alumni Chapter
Spring 2021 Scholarship Awards
Spring 2021 Scholarship Awards
Michael Wise, Drums $1,000.00 Patron Scholarship
Michael Wise received his BA in Music at California State University Dominguez Hills in spring 2021 and plans to continue to a master’s degree. Michael has played for social gatherings, church events, and school social functions in the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas. He performed with a variety of groups such as Resonance Band, The Think of One Jazz Combo, Luke Elder and The Infinite Ways, The Long Beach City Jazz Band, and many more ensembles. He also volunteered his time by helping the drumline at Jordan High School. Michael’s goal is to become a private Drum instructor for high schools, community colleges, and for universities. Michael wants to share his gifts with the world and inspire new musicians of today's generation.
Mahane Tomizawa, Piano $750.00 Ruth Cuccia Memorial Scholarship
Mahane Tomizawa is dedicated to playing classical piano music. She completed all levels, including the Panel level, of the MTAC Certificate of Merit Evaluations, and is in her first year of the Applied Music Program at El Camino College with private instructor Professor. Lois Roberts. Mahane also continues lessons with her long-time private teacher, Naomi Ozawa with whom she has been studying since elementary school, performing in her recitals every year. In those recitals, Mahane also performed piano duets and trios and as accompanist for instrumentalists. Mahane won several awards in competitions such as the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), and the JMAC Lighthouse Piano Festival. Mahane performed as a flutist in school bands from fourth grade to high school marching band and wind ensemble. She performed with the South Torrance High School Jazz ensembles as a piano player and in a small jazz combo with some of her friends. The combo performed in recitals and in competitions Recently, Mahane has focused on the piano in classical music. She recently performed in virtual recitals hosted by Mrs. Ozawa, while also working on some recordings of classical piano pieces that she is studying with Lois Roberts at El Camino College
Dé Ana Abinante, Jazz Vocals $750.00 Patron Scholarship
Dé Ana Abinante is a 23-year-old, passionate, singer/songwriter/musician, and youth advocate. She is an El Camino College alumni and is pursuing a BM in Jazz at CSUN. As an artist, she places a particular emphasis in her message to inspire young people towards their dreams and to uplift them to fight through the challenges that they face in their lives. De Ana has performed all over the Los Angeles area and around the West Coast, including performing and hosting her own live and virtual home concert series, Freedom Cry, in 2018, and Heart Cries in 2019 - 2020. In September 2017, she released her debut, 5 song EP, War Cry, and is currently working on her next album Heart Cries, set to be released by the fall of 2021. De Ana also teaches music at Cal Heights Music School and started her own online music academy, Young Song Learners.
Janelle Catbagan, Voice $400.00 Linnea Eades Memorial Scholarship
Janelle Catbagan will be a senior this fall at California State University Dominguez Hills majoring in Music Education with an emphasis on voice. After graduation, she plans to pursue a music teaching credential and earn a master’s degree to become a music educator in a K-12 school. In the 2020-2021 school year, Janelle was president of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon at California State University Dominguez Hills. She is representing the chapter at the Mu Phi Epsilon International Convention this summer and will continue as president in the coming year. Janelle is currently studying voice under Dr. Dawn Brooks and currently a cantor for Sunday mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Gardena, CA.
Enrica Hodder, Voice $300.00 Patron Scholarship
Enrica Hodder attends the Applied Music Vocal Program at El Camino College maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She received the Foundation Board of Directors Award for Excellence for the 2021 to 2022 academic year. A soprano in the vocal program, she performs solo classical pieces in recitals and with the choir. In 2019, Enrica performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of the Distinguished Concerts Singers International. Also in 2019, Enrica was selected to participate in the Master Class for the Applied Music Vocal Program, directed by Sara Widzer where she performed the role of Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Enrica is an active member of the Manhattan Beach Community Church Choir and performs with them on a weekly basis. She is also a continuing member of the Voce Angelicus Choir at El Camino. Enrica performs solo pieces in the Opera Workshop Showcase each fall and spring and looks forward with enthusiasm to performing live this fall 2021.
Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley, Composition $300.00 Pearl Kim Award
Shannon Gaebrielle Hefley is a composer, musician, and private flute instructor and currently a student at California State University Dominguez Hills She began her musical journey in elementary school with the choir at 7 and flute at 9, followed by composition at 16. Hefley has performed throughout the Temecula Wine Country, Riverside County, and as a pit orchestra musician for the off-Broadway show of Beauty and the Beast (2018). Her most recent performance was Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Springs. Currently, she is studying flute under Dr. Derrick (Rik) Noyce and composition with Dr. Jonathan Grasse at California State University Dominguez Hills. She composed music for the Mount San Jacinto College Orchestra, where she debuted an original composition Beyond the Reaches of Our Galaxy. Shannon Gaebrielle composed multiple works for the Cadenza String Orchestra based in Temecula, CA. She was to debut her piece Plumb Blossom, in July 2021, in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Festival (Vienna, Austria). In June 2021, she had the pleasure of composing two pieces Seasons Changing and Mama Thelma and performing in a workshop by the LA-based Brightwork Ensemble for New Music. She is currently working with a three-time platinum award-winning artist and writer (not to be disclosed) on a project she will share upon its completion.