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2015 Scholars Announced

The Charleston Men’s Chorus (CMC) is pleased to announce the recipients of 2015-2016 season scholarships. Using proceeds from its annual concerts, CMC awards a total of $10,000 in music scholarships each year to students pursuing a degree in vocal music or choral conducting at the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University. CMC is proud to have two students from each of the institutions returning as scholars:

David Nagelkirk, of Grand Rapids, MI, is a senior at Charleston Southern University, majoring in Choral Music Education.  He sings baritone with the Singing Buccaneers and Concert Singers at CSU under the direction of Mr. Ricard Bordas and Dr. Valerie Bullock. In his time at CSU David has participated in Lyric Theatre, appearing as the Wolf in Stephen Sondheim's “Into The Woods” and as the Aeneas in Henry Purcell's opera, “Dido and Aeneas.”  Before college he was actively involved in musical theatre and band, both concert and marching, at the high school level.  David sings and assists in the direction of the children's choirs at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church and is currently studying voice with Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis at CSU.

Josh Overby is a senior at the College of Charleston and is currently working toward his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Josh studies voice with Mrs. Deanna McBroom, and has studied with Dr. Robert Taylor and Dr. Art Bumgardner. He is a member of the national award winning College of Charleston Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, and has performed with the world-renowned Taylor Festival Choir. Josh was a highly decorated high school musician, achieving All-State, All-County, and All-Region honors in choir, orchestra, and band. He intends to pursue a career in choral music and has studied conducting with Mr. William Bennett, one of the first CMC scholars.

Jackson Varner is a sophomore at Charleston Southern University studying choral music education. He is originally from Summerville, SC and is currently a member of the Singing Buccaneers, Concert Singers and Lyric Theatre. He is also a Worship leader and member of the praise and worship team at Bethany United Methodist Church.

Chris Prohaska is a sophomore at the College of Charleston.  He has worked under the direction of esteemed conductors such as Simon Carrington, Joe Miller and former CMC scholar William Bennett.  Chris sang with the South Carolina All State Choir for three out of his four years in high school, as well as with the American Choral Directors' Association Honor Choirs throughout the southeast.  In addition, Chris has sung with the Taylor Festival Choir in Charleston for the past year, along with the College of Charleston's Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers.  He received recognition at the regional level of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in the Spring of 2015.  Outside of choral music, Chris has studied piano for over ten years, performing at various churches and schools throughout Berkeley County.  Chris is also a founding member of the steel drum band, Panjamdrum.

The four students receive not only educational funds, but also the opportunity of singing with an experienced group of male singers under the direction of internationally-acclaimed countertenor and conductor Ricard Bordas. The scholars take part in CMC’s weekly rehearsals and annual concerts, gaining valuable technical instruction as well as performance experience. “It is interesting to note our first scholarship recipient is now teaching in the area.  Even more interesting, some of his students are now scholarship recipients.  I hope we all see this as an excellent return on investment,” added CMC Board President Bob Brennan.


Photography
Top: Memorial Day Concert 2015, (left to right) Andrew York, past CMC Board Vice President, Jack Evan, past CMC Board President, Chris Prohaska, Jackson Varner, David Nagelkirk, and Ricard Bordas, CMC Director. Not pictured: Josh Overby. Photo credit: Reese Moore

Soloist: David Nagelkirk, Memorial Day Concert 2015. Photo credit: Reese Moore

Headshot: Josh Overby.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Charleston Men's Chorus was founded in 1990 to fill the need in the Lowcountry arts community for the distinctive harmonies of a male chorus. The non‐profit group is an auditioned choir of approximately 70 members. CMC is directed by internationally renowned countertenor and director Ricard Bordas and distinguished musician Pamela Nelson serves as the chorus’s piano accompanist. While their annual Christmas and Memorial Day concerts define the group’s theme and choice of repertoire, the Spring concert offers CMC an opportunity to explore different themes and selections written for male choirs, including folk, theater or operatic pieces. Many of CMC offerings are by American composers, but musical traditions from around the world are also explored, from the madrigal and motet to folk song and anthems. Each year the Chorus is proud to award scholarships to vocal performance or music education majors at the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University.
Media Contact:
Rachel Chesser
rchesser@charlestonmenschorus.org
(843) 697-0717 mobile
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