March 18, 2022 - UCS Website - Scholarships support UCS student musicians

Ten Utica Community Schools students will have the opportunity to further their musical experiences, thanks to the return this year of BandARama. 

The students were each selected for $500 awards through the Louis Gonda Memorial scholarship.

The funds were raised primarily through Band-A-Rama – a unique gathering of all high school bands where they perform their half-time performances before a packed stadium of supporters. 

“We appreciate the support of our community to provide our students with every opportunity to further their skills,” said Eisenhower Band Teacher Jonathan Carrothers. “These scholarships will give each of our students the opportunity to attend music camps, take private lessons or otherwise enrich their music study.”

Scholarship recipients this year are:

• Christian Bush – Eisenhower High School

• Sophia Dobbie – Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies 

• Jessica Glidden – Henry Ford II High School

• Matt Hardin – Utica High School

• Erica Holmberg – Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies

• Grant Levin – Utica High School

• Ashlynn Pennazoli – Stevenson High School

• Riley Sauger – Eisenhower High School

• Maia Suggs- Utica High School

• Dillion Warner - Stevenson High School

Students are awarded the scholarships after an audition with outside adjudicator. The students were selected based on Tone, Intonation, Rhythm, Technique, and Interpretation.

Since its inception, the Louis Gonda Fund has enabled hundreds of UCS students to further their musical education.Gonda was the first music teacher at Utica High School in the 1950s, prior to the opening of the district's remaining high schools. 

UCS band students are under the direction of Brett Bays, Utica High School; Jonathan Carrothers, of Eisenhower High School; Gaye Hofer, of the Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies; and Matt Schoenherr, of Henry Ford II High School; and Michael Sekich, of Stevenson High School.