Palos Verdes/South Bay Alumni Chapter
Spring 2022 Scholarship Awards
Spring 2022 Scholarship Awards
Brandi Morales, Voice $1,000.00 Ruth Cuccia Memorial Scholarship
Brandi Morales is a 23-year-old musician with a passion for vocal performance since she was 5 years old. She has performed in the South Bay’s Children Choir in 2007 and performed with a youth theater company, Haven Academy of the Arts, from 2009-2019. Some of her favorite roles include Anita (West Side Story) and Ursula (The Little Mermaid). Her after-school hobby quickly became her passion, she has been pursuing vocal performance since. This is Brandi’s third semester in the Applied Music Program at El Camino College with her private instructor Dr. Kevin Blickfeldt. She has also been involved in Concert Choir and Chorale at El Camino College and performed for a board member meeting in the Fall of 2021. Brandi has decided to work on getting an associate degree in vocal performance with plans to transfer to a Cal State University 2024 to pursue her passion.
Brandi Morales, Voice $1,000.00 Ruth Cuccia Memorial Scholarship
Brandi Morales is a 23-year-old musician with a passion for vocal performance since she was 5 years old. She has performed in the South Bay’s Children Choir in 2007 and performed with a youth theater company, Haven Academy of the Arts, from 2009-2019. Some of her favorite roles include Anita (West Side Story) and Ursula (The Little Mermaid). Her after-school hobby quickly became her passion, she has been pursuing vocal performance since. This is Brandi’s third semester in the Applied Music Program at El Camino College with her private instructor Dr. Kevin Blickfeldt. She has also been involved in Concert Choir and Chorale at El Camino College and performed for a board member meeting in the Fall of 2021. Brandi has decided to work on getting an associate degree in vocal performance with plans to transfer to a Cal State University 2024 to pursue her passion.
Catherine Nunley, Vibraphone $1,000.00 Patron Scholarship
Catherine Nunley is a Vibraphonist and Composer from Torrance, California. Catherine started her career as a Percussionist at South Torrance High School where she competed in Marching Band and Drumline for four years. She is in her third year at El Camino College and working towards achieving an Associate Degree in Music along with the Commercial Music Certificate of Achievement. Catherine is a part of the Applied Music Program at El Camino and received Jury Honors in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. She plans to transfer to a Cal State University in the Fall of 2023 and aims to work in music production.
Catherine Nunley, Vibraphone $1,000.00 Patron Scholarship
Catherine Nunley is a Vibraphonist and Composer from Torrance, California. Catherine started her career as a Percussionist at South Torrance High School where she competed in Marching Band and Drumline for four years. She is in her third year at El Camino College and working towards achieving an Associate Degree in Music along with the Commercial Music Certificate of Achievement. Catherine is a part of the Applied Music Program at El Camino and received Jury Honors in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021. She plans to transfer to a Cal State University in the Fall of 2023 and aims to work in music production.
Janelle Catbagan, Voice $750.00 David Witherspoon Memorial Scholarship
Janelle Catbagan will be graduating with her B.A. in Music: Music Education, with an emphasis on voice, at California State University Dominguez Hills in Spring 2022. Upon 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. Janelle was President of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon at CSU Dominguez Hills for two years from 2020 to 2022. At CSUDH, she studied voice under Dr. Dawn Brooks and has received honors in her juries every semester. Janelle currently serves as a cantor for Sunday mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Gardena, CA.
Eric Calderon, Saxophone $600.00 Scholarship in Memory of Maria Jaque
Eric Calderon is a freshman at California State University Dominguez Hills majoring in Music Performance studying classical saxophonist with Dr.Chika Inoue. Wanting to expand his knowledge on saxophone, he has the drive and passion to keep pushing to his very limits to continue to strive and learn new things. Outside of classical music, Eric likes to dive into other genres of music such as Pop, Jazz, and Funk, learning new ways to approach the saxophone in any genre. After graduation, Eric wants to perform and to share his knowledge with the world and to inspire new musicians of today's generation.
Chase Yun, Voice $300.00 Scholarship in Memory of Barbara Hammer
Chase Yun received his BS in Chemical Engineering from California State University Long Beach in Spring 2020 and is now pursuing his passion in music. He has completed all levels, including the Panel level, of the MTAC Certificate of Merit Evaluations for piano and is now in his first year of the Applied Voice Program at El Camino College studying under Dr. Anthony Moreno. Chase wants to inspire the new generation to follow their passion.
Daniel Torres, Saxophone $300.00 Patron Scholarship
Daniel Torres is 18 years old and played the Alto Saxophone since 2018 at Banning Highschool. He is now a full-time student at California State University Dominguez Hills as a Music Education Major. He enjoys a variety of music genres including classical, reggae, rock, jazz, R&B and more. He enjoys the little things in life and plans to educate the future with the musical arts.
Samuel Price, Piano $300.00 Scholarship in Honor of Pearl Kim
Samuel Price lives in the South Bay, Los Angeles and is studying to be a concert pianist and composer. He is proficient in Finale, Notepad and now is also branching into Musescore. He started his studies in piano performance under Mrs. Nobumon, and currently is under the instruction of Professor Roberts at El Camino, working to achieve an AA in Music and a B.A in Piano Performance. He composes in his free time, something he’s done since the fall of 2017, with most completed works falling under the style of neo-Romanticism, mainly waltzes and a few marches.