Deadline looming for performing arts scholarship
The deadline is approaching for budding young metro area performance artists interested in applying for financial help to pay for professional training in singing, acting and dance. Starlight Theatre is accepting nominations for the 2019 Vincent Legacy Scholarships through March 29.
The $2,500 needs-based scholarship is open to “ethnically diverse middle school students” who are highly motivated to improve their skills through professional training in singing, acting and dance. They must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
To qualify for a Vincent Legacy Scholarship, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in the metro area or surrounding communities must demonstrate financial need. They must attend school regularly with no unexcused absences and demonstrate an interest in community service.
Starlight Theatre, one of Kansas City’s oldest and most beloved institutions and the Vincent Legacy Foundation have awarded the scholarships since 2006 to help area youths “follow their passion for performance.” Over the past 13 years, scholarship winners have included 36 Hispanic students. Three of them applied their scholarship funds toward fine-tuning their voices – and they’re singing their way to success.
The most recent aspiring vocalist was an 8th grader at Congress Middle School in Kansas City. Natalia Castaneda, now a freshman at Park Hill High School, was surprised last May when Starlight leaders and scholarship founders and donors Greg and Rebecca Reid visited her 8th-grade class. They had great news for Natalia and her family – she was one of four recipients of a 2018 Vincent Legacy Scholarship.
“It felt really nice to win,” Natalia said. “My parents did a lot to help me audition for the scholarship, so it felt good to see them proud of me!”
While Natalia may be somewhat small in stature, her singing voice packs a powerful punch. She wowed Starlight judges and the Reids at her audition last April when she sang a vocal solo and followed up with the National Anthem. With the funds provided by the scholarship and administered by Starlight, Natalia has been able to reconnect and re-enroll with her former voice coach, Michelle Harper of Harper Haus Music Co.
“I’m learning more ways to exercise my voice and strengthen my stage presence,” Natalia said.
Sophia Mesa was also an 8th grader when she won a Vincent Legacy Scholarship in 2015. The Eastgate Middle School student used her scholarship funds for voice lessons at The Lydia Lovan Community School of Music at William Jewell College.
Now a senior at North Kansas City High School, Sophia has put her scholarship-aided vocal training to good use, performing in her high school’s productions of Shrek the Musical, Catch Me If You Can and Hairspray. She also was a member of the KC Metro All-District Men & Women’s Choir in 2017 and won a silver medal for her vocal solo at State last April.
Ansonia Serrano now calls Orlando, Fla., home, but she won a 2011 Vincent Legacy Scholarship while in seventh grade at Grain Valley South Middle School. The $2,500 scholarship allowed her to take voice lessons with instructor Lori Bates at Pinnell Voice Studio in Blue Springs, Mo.
After completing two years of college at the University of Central Missouri, Ansonia moved last year to Florida with her family. Before returning to school, she decided to work full-time on her music and has been writing lyrics and recording in her home studio.
Her efforts are paying off. Ansonia’s father debuted two of her original songs on his radio show on 98.5 The Wire. A song “Another Life” that Ansonia wrote to a track her brother produced is now live on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube and Amazon. And on March 23, Ansonia will reach another milestone when she performs her original music for an audience in Orlando.
She credits her 2011 scholarship win with putting her on the path to success. “I’m still beyond grateful for Greg and Rebecca Reid and all of the wonderful people at Starlight for seeing something in me back when I was 13 years old and allowing me to share a space with so many incredible young artists,” Ansonia said recently. “The scholarship truly shaped my belief in myself as a young musician, and I’m so thankful that this program continues to exist.”
