Palos Verdes/South Bay Alumni Chapter
Spring 2023 Scholarship Awards

PictureKayla Stefansson, 1st Place $1,500.00 Ruth Cuccia Memorial Scholarship
​  Kayla Stefansson is a 20-year-old El Camino student who has been performing since the age of 6. She began her performance journey at the South Bay Conservatory where she performed in over 30 musicals from 2010-2020. Her favorite roles include Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and Gertrude (Seussical). She recently had the wonderful opportunity to play Amélie in the El Camino College production of “Amélie the Musical.” Last summer, Kayla studied acting and Shakespeare’s works in depth in Oxford, England at the British American Drama Academy. She is currently studying privately with Dr. Victoria Muto and singing in the chorale with Dr. Joanna Nachef in the El Camino College Applied Music Program. Kayla is humbled and privileged to receive a scholarship to help her pursue her passion for the arts, and she extends her gratitude to Mu Phi Epsilon.
PictureNickolas Ortiz, 2nd Place $1,250 David Witherspoon Scholarship
​  Nickolas Ortiz is a saxophone player pursuing a major in Music Education at California State University, Dominguez Hills. As a high school student, he was offered a role to join the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center by a former student of the program, Keisha Potter, after she singled him out at one of his performances. Since then, he has played in Fernando Pullum’s Senior Jazz Orchestra and has had the opportunity to play and record music with remarkable musicians such as members of Earth, Wind, and Fire, Kamasi Washington, Jackson Brown, Jhene Aiko, and more. At CSUDH he decided to take double lessons in both Classical and Jazz music. From the start of his sophomore year to the end of his junior year, Nickolas took Classical Lessons with Chika Inoue and Jazz Lessons with Teodross Avery. At CSUDH, he learned leadership skills, which led him to his position of Chorister in the Mu Phi Epsilon Gamma Sigma Chapter. He has a passion to help others become successful in whichever musical endeavors they pursue and plans to become an educator who can help and inspire students to become successful in whatever path they choose. Nick is in his last semester at CSUDH getting ready to enter the world as an educator and performer.
PictureSamuel M. O. Price III, 3rd Place $750.00 Scholarship to honor Pearl Kim
 


 Samuel Price is a native and resident of the South Bay Area, Samuel is currently studying under the direction of Professor Lois Roberts at El Camino College and was previously a student under Mrs. Nobumon at Opus Music in Torrance. He is currently working to transfer and complete a B.M in Piano Performance. In his spare time, he composes using Finale Notepad 2012, and recently, Musescore 3.0, with most works written under the style of neo-Romanticism, with waltzes and marches with elaborate titles such as "A Day". He firmly believes that music should evoke human experience and emotions.
PictureIan Mendoza, $300.00 Scholarship in memory of Barbara Hammer
​ Ian Mendoza is a 21-year-old multi-instrumentalist, and tenor vocalist from Redondo Beach, CA. Ian discovered his passion for singing in elementary school and continued to pursue performing throughout his academic career, including singing in Redondo Union High School’s “Sea Hawk Singers” choir, that participated in the 2017 Worldstrides Heritage Choral Festival in San Francisco which was awarded gold in the 3A Chamber Choir category. Ian has been a member of the El Camino Chorale since 2020 and the Applied Music Program since 2022, performing and studying both online and in-person under the instruction of Dr. Joanna Medawar Nachef and Dr. Kevin Blickfeldt. Ian plans to pursue an associate degree in musical performance at El Camino College and aspires to become a recording artist and composer. Ian has a strong interest in film and is considering transferring to multiple UCs to pursue an education in film production while expanding upon his musical studies.
PictureAlejandro Pelaez-Jimenez, $300.00 Patron Scholarship
​ Alejandro Pelaez is a Classical Guitarist enrolled at California State University Dominguez Hills majoring in both Computer Science and Music Performance. Alejandro participated in the CSU Summer Arts Guitar Course and studied abroad in Granada Spain with maestro Pepe Romero and his protégé Vicente Coves in the Festival de la Guitarra. Master classes include Pepe Romero, Vicente Coves, Thomas Viloteau, Judicael Perroy, Rafael Aguirre, Roland Dyens, Scott Tennant, William Kanengiser, Eliot Fisk, Andrew York, and Jack Sanders. Currently, he is studying classical guitar under Dr. David Isaacs at CSUDH. Alejandro plays a 2004 Rafael Moreno Spruce top (Spain) and a 2005 Gioachino Giussani Cedar top (Italy). Upon Graduation, Alejandro plans to pursue his masters in guitar performance.
PictureMarisa Klug, Soprano $300.00 Patron Scholarship

​​ Marisa Klug is a Los Angeles based singer, actor, and dancer. She is currently studying voice under the direction of Dr. Victoria Muto at El Camino College in the applied voice program. Marisa’s start in the performing arts began at the age of 6 with classical ballet training, and she has taught ballet to all levels at Pacific Dance Center in Hermosa Beach, CA. She studied dance in New York with the Alvin Ailey School of Dance in Harlem. She has performed in numerous musical theater productions in Los Angeles. Marisa holds a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. Marisa plans to continue her studies in music by obtaining an AA degree in music from El Camino College.”
Picture Airi Ozawa, $300.00 Patron Scholarship


​ Airi Ozawa is currently attending El Camino College majoring in music. After completing her prerequisites, she plans on transferring to a four-year college such as a CSU or UC to continue her in violin performance studies. She has been playing the violin for 15 years starting at the young age of five years. During these years, she performed with many orchestras outside of El Camino College such as “nTyme” and “PVRO” just to name a few. She performs with the El Camino Orchestra as the assistant concert mistress. Airi is currently learning “Mozart Concerto No. 5” with expectations of playing it with the El Camino Orchestra in the summer of 2023.
PictureJonathan Bass, $300.00 Patron Scholarship
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 Jonathan Bass is a dedicated clarinet player from Redondo Beach, California. He discovered his passion for music in 2014 and has since honed his skills through various performance opportunities, including concert band, orchestra, marching band, and pit orchestra. Currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Music at El Camino College, he is always challenged to improve his tonality, articulation, and technical capabilities as a musician. In addition to his studies, Jonathan aspires to compose a wide range of music styles and strives to connect with fellow musicians. His ultimate goal is to transfer to a Cal State University to continue his education and pursue his musical dreams. 
PictureAlex Luna Jr. $300.00 Patron Scholarship
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  Alex Luna Jr. is a first year applied piano major at El Camino College. He is currently studying with Lois Roberts and David Nunez. He loves playing music from the romantic era and hopes to transfer to a university to pursue a career in film scoring.
PictureAllan Mancia, $300.00 Patron Scholarship


​  Allan Mancia is currently studying jazz guitar at California State University Dominguez Hills. Allan has experience in and outside of the classroom. He is currently working with a music program at a middle school in Downtown LA. He has performed at the Greek Theatre and the Walt Disney Concert Hall with artists such as Foreigner and The Airborne Toxic Event. If he is not practicing, he is hiking the mountains of Southern California or cheering on his alma mater. 
Thanks to our members Janet Bunker, Nancy Carr and Julio Sequeira who judged and thanks to El Camino College for hosting the auditions.
 Special thanks to our patrons, our memorial donors and all those who support the fund-raising efforts that enable our philanthropy.