The Charleston Men’s Chorus (CMC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2014-2015 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. Two students from each of the institutions have been selected:
Josh Overby is a Junior at the College of Charleston and is currently working toward his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Josh studies voice with Dr. Robert Taylor, and has studied with Dr. Art Bumgardener. 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.
Chris Prohaska is a freshman at the College of Charleston, where he is a vocal performance major studying with Robert Taylor. He has been a member of the South Carolina All-State chorus for three years in a row, attended the American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA) Southeastern Regional High School Honor Choir twice and has traveled to England to work under the direction of Simon Carrington through another ACDA program. Chris has played piano for 10 years and has performed for multiple organizations and churches throughout Berkeley County. Chris intends to continue his education to become a choir director.
David Nagelkirk, of Grand Rapids, MI, is a junior at Charleston Southern University and is a Choral Music Education major. 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 Mayor in Georges Bizet’s operetta, Dr. Miracle. Before college he was actively involved in musical theatre and band, both concert and marching, at the high school level. David is currently studying private voice with Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis at CSU.
Jackson Varner is a 20 year old transfer student 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.
The four students receive not only educational funds, but also the benefit 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. “In addition to having a great time singing together, the primary goals of Charleston Men’s Chorus have always been to entertain and enrich the public through our performances and to support music education in the Lowcountry. For more than a decade, we have funded multiple scholarships for the music departments of the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University. This effort has made it possible for local college students majoring in music and intent on a music career to attend college more affordably,” explains CMC president Jack Evans.
Charleston Men's Chorus 