2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS CONCERT

Memorial Award Descriptions

JEAN B. AXELSON – Born in Newton, MA, Jean B. Axelson graduated from Boston University with a BA in V oice

and Musical Theatre. Joining B Sharp in 1961, Jean was an active performer and chaired the Scholarship Committee for

many years. She served as President from 1983 to 1985 and was made an Honorary Member. Jean is remembered for

her beautiful singing, her positive attitude, and her enthusiasm.

SALLY BLATT – Sally Blatt was active in the community as pianist, accompanist, and piano teacher. She served as

president of Etude Club (1949-1951) and B Sharp Club (1952-1954). She was organist of Tabernacle Baptist Church and

the Masonic Chapel in Utica.

EDWARD BEHEN BRADLEY – Edward Behen Bradley, wheelchair athlete, was a student at New Hartford and

played the timpani in the marching band under the direction of Mike DiMeo. He also played drums, trumpet, and

keyboard and attended The Crane School of Music Summer Camp at Potsdam College. An exceptional athlete, Ed

completed 15 Boilermaker races, 2 Niagara International Marathons, for which he won the 1st place trophy in 2010, the

Turning Stone Half Marathon, Falling Leaves, Run To the Rescue, Honor America, The Violet Festival, the Copper Wire

Run, and others. He was proud to have ridden for Missing Children.

LUANN BOWEN – LuAnn Bowen was born in Utica, NY . She received a master’s degree in music education from

Syracuse University and taught music in the local public schools. She joined B Sharp in 1974 as a singer and performed

on many of the club's programs. She was also a member of the Etude Music Club of Utica, and was involved in local

theatre productions.

MARGARET JOHNSON – Margaret Johnson became a member of both B Sharp and Etude in 1931 and graciously

served both clubs for years. After serving as President of B Sharp (1966-1968) she was made an honorary member. She

was active as an accompanist and teacher of piano for over seventy years.

MARCELLA A. LALLY – Begun under the auspices of the Utica Free Academy Alumni Choir, this award was

organized by Miss Lally after World War II. Deserving students received scholarships to attend summer sessions of the

New York Music Teachers Association. Following the closure of UFA, the funds were transferred to the B Sharp Club to

administer the award.

JOANNA LAFARO MOORE – Joanna Moore was an active member of the B Sharp Music Club for 53 years. As a

performer, she sang leading roles in many operatic productions, and gave numerous recital, oratorio, and church

performances. In addition, she maintained an active career as a collaborative pianist, served as music director for

numerous high school musical productions, and taught music at St. Mary’s School in Clinton and also in the

Westmoreland and New Hartford Central School Districts. Joanna served B Sharp in many capacities over the years,

including president, treasurer, and various committee chairs. Her devotion to Junior B Sharp remains a cherished

memory for generations of young musicians.

DONNA MARIE MUNGARI – Donna Marie Mungari received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Mary Manse

College in Toledo, Ohio, and completed graduate study at Bowling Green State University and SUNY Utica and Rome.

She began her teaching career at a private school in Toledo, Ohio, and ended it with 32 years of teaching at General

William Floyd School in Stittville, NY . Donna was a member of the B Sharp Music Club for fifteen years and served as

the club’s treasurer for a number of years.

NICHOLAS S. PRIORE – Nicholas S. Priore was an active performing member of B Sharp for thirteen years and an

avid supporter of the club’s scholarship program. He was a well-known and respected partner in the Utica law firm

Getnick, Livingston, Atkinson, Gigliotti & Priore. A charismatic and captivating performer, tenor, and actor, he was very

active in local theater and musical productions. Nick was dedicated to his profession, to the arts, and to his family.

VIVIEN HARVEY SLATER – A member of the B Sharp Musical Club for forty-seven years, Vivien Harvey Slater was

Pianist in Residence at Colgate University, lecturer/recitalist for the European Piano Teachers Association, and a member

of the Letschetitsky Society. Her Musical Heritage Society recordings championed the works of Carl Czerny and Arthur

Shepard (including a work dedicated to her by the composer). Vivien traced her pianistic lineage through her teacher

Severin Eisenberger, Theodore Letschetitsky, Franz Liszt, Carl Czerny, and ultimately, to Ludwig van Beethoven. This

award honors her as mentor, teacher, composer, recitalist, and for the expertise and exquisite performances she so

generously shared.

UTICA MUSIC LEAGUE – Founded in 1968 by Gamble Benedict Gallagher as the Utica Symphony League, its

mission was to promote the Utica Symphony and to foster and enrich the musical knowledge of this community. Now, as

the Utica Music League, it still seeks to support the arts in this area. The B Sharp Musical Club appreciates their ongoing

support of the club’s annual scholarship competition.

VETURIA I. WILEY – Veturia I. Wiley became an associate member of B Sharp in 1951 and was an active member of

the scholarship committee for many years. Established through her will this fund provides an annual scholarship award to

perpetuate her love of music, honoring deserving young students.

DR. JOSEPH J. WITT – This award was given by Norma M. Witt in loving memory of her husband, Dr. Joseph J. Witt

(1905-1973), who practiced medicine in Utica for many years and was a great lover of music. The award furthers the

donor’s desire to honor achievement and to encourage the further study of music.

MORE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL STUDENTS WITH SUMMER DEADLINES

Mary & Sheila McGinty Piano Scholarship

Scholarship awarded to a local* graduating high school senior who excels at piano and plans to pursue further study in

piano performance or another musical field of study**

Application Deadline - Monday, June 1st, 2026, 11:59 pm

More information at https://www.bsharpmusic.org/mcginty-piano-scholarship

Robert B. Pecci Scholarship

Two $1500 scholarships awarded to local* students pursuing college degrees in a musical field of study**

Application Deadline - Monday, June 1st, 2026, 11:59 pm More information at

https://www.bsharpmusic.org/pecci-scholarship

Vera Brindisi Grant

Awarded by the Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer County, to a local* young musician to facilitate

advanced study of piano or voice outside of the Mohawk Valley. Funds can be used for travel to study, for tuition for

summer music experience, etc. First round application deadline June 1, 2026. Second round September 30, 2026.

More information at https://www.bsharpmusic.org/brindisi-grant

* Applicants must be a resident of Oneida, Herkimer, or Madison County, OR (to participate in the B Sharp Scholarship Competition) may be a current student of a member of The B Sharp Musical Club.

**e.g. Music Education, Music Performance, Music Composition, Music Theory, Music History, Music Therapy

Meet Our Distinguished Judges

Judges' Complete Biographies

Pianist Dr. Jacob Ertl has performed extensively in the United States and throughout Europe, Asia,Central America, and the Middle East.Performance highlights include recital debuts at Carnegie

Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, and Chicagoradio's "Live from WFMT" concert series. Additional guest artist engagements include the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space (New York City), Zipper Hall (Los Angeles), Teatro Degollado and Chihuahua International Music Festival (Mexico), Musicarte Festival (Panama), Oviedo and Gijón International Music Festivals (Spain), and the World Piano Conference (Serbia). He also regularly presents recital and masterclass tours throughout

China. Ertl is a member of two contemporary chamber music ensembles: Ensemble Alla Balena and the Eastern Standard Trio, with whom he has recorded three commercial albums, commissioned and premiered over twenty new works, and presented annual tours for the past ten seasons. Ertl has also released the world premiere recording of Fisher Tull’s Piano Concerto on Klavier Records, distributed internationally by Naxos. Ertl currently serves as Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, Professor of Piano, and Director of the Performance Program at the Nazareth University School of Music in Rochester, New York. He is also the Immediate Past-President of NYSMTA, Chair of the PianoArts Alumni Board, Director of the Nazareth University Piano Competition, Coordinator of the Piano Pedagogy Workshop, and Visiting Guest Professor of

Piano at Shandong Normal University in China. Ertl holds piano performance degrees from the

Oberlin Conservatory of Music (BM) and the Eastman School of Music (MM,DMA). For more

information, visit www.jacobertl.com.

Violinist Dr. Peter Rovit (BM, Indiana University; MM, Hartt School; Professional Studies, Juilliard; DMA, SUNY Stony Brook) was among the last students of Josef Gingold at Indiana University where he also studied Baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie. Other teachers have included Mitchell Stern, Philip

Setzer (Emerson Quartet), Cho-Liang Lin, Paul Kantor and Donald Weilerstein. As a chamber musician, recitalist, and soloist he has performed throughout the United States and at music festivals such as Aspen, Taos, Yellow Barn, Hot Springs, Skaneateles, and Musical Spring in Saint Petersburg (Russia). A

concerto competition winner at both the Hartt School and at SUNY Stony Brook, Mr. Rovit has also performed as a soloist with the Montgomery Symphony, the Fort Smith Symphony, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic,Tuscaloosa Symphony, and the Syracuse Orchestra. He was a recipient of the prestigious Montgomery Symphony Violin Fellowship, has been a member of the Quartet Oklahoma, Associate Concertmaster of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and Concertmaster of the Tuscaloosa Symphony. He is currently the Concertmaster of the Syracuse Orchestra. Mr. Rovit also loves to share his knowledge and experience with young musicians and has been on the string faculty of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Alabama. His students have gone on to study at such schools as Juilliard and Rice, and have won positions in professional orchestras, as well as the Chicago Civic Orchestra.

Dr. James Tapia is director of orchestral activities and associate professor of music in the Setnor School of Music. He conducts the Syracuse University Symphony Orchestra and oversees the entire orchestra program. He teaches in the graduate conducting program in orchestral conducting. His graduate conducting students have enjoyed great success as conductors of university orchestra programs, youth orchestras and professional orchestras alike. They have also won prestigious conducting competitions and have

been awarded numerous research and study grants.Tapia received a doctor of music degree in conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. His post-graduate work includes participation in the Carnegie Institute for Orchestral Conductors and the Pine Mountain Conducting Seminar. He has served on the faculties of Syracuse University, the University of Michigan and Pittsburg State University. Tapia is equally at home with professional, university and youth ensembles. He has held the position of music director of the Syracuse Summer Festival Orchestra for the past 15 years. He is conductor of a professional music educator’s wind ensemble, the Central Winds. He also currently serves as conductor of the Syracuse Youth Orchestra. Tapia began his professional conducting experience with the Tampa Bay Symphony as assistant conductor and has

conducted the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Bach Festival Orchestra, the Detroit

Chamber Winds and Strings, and the Dallas Wind Symphony along with many guest conducting

experiences. A strong advocate of music education, Tapia has presented many in-service workshops

for public school educators, as well as numerous presentations at state and regional music education

association conferences. In addition, he continues to conduct internationally, U.S. all-state orchestras

and bands, and other regional and honor ensembles. Tapia is a strong proponent of new music. He

has been instrumental in the development and production of contemporary music festivals, and

his interest in new music has led him to collaborations with such composers as Leslie Bassett,

Karel Husa, Michael Daugherty, George Crumb, Donald Grantham, Andrew Waggoner, Dan

Godfrey and Andrew Meade.

Alexander Bonner is a tenor from Syracuse, NY. He holds degrees from the Boston Conservatory and Binghamton University. He has performed in productions of Stravinsky’s “The Rakes Progress” and Verdi’s “La Traviata” at The Boston Conservatory. While in his Master’s program at Binghamton he has

sang the roles of Monkey in Binghamton University’s production of “Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers” as well as Tamino in Mozart’s "The Magic Flute,” La rainette, Le Petit Villard and La Théière in Ravel’s

“Lenfant et les Sortilèges” and Nerone in “Lincoronazione di Poppea” He has been a part of Tri-Cities Opera’s productions of “La Cenerentola”, “Stone Soup” and “Mystery on the Docks” and “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Mr. Bonner performed in Palm Beach Opera’s 2025 season in “Roméo et Juliette,” “LaTraviata” and “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Most recently he made his debut at the Chautauqua Institute this summer performing the role of Paco in the main stage production of “La Vida Breve.” He is an adjunct instructor of voice at Hamilton College and maintains a private studio as well.

Our Generous Donors

The B Sharp Musical Club is a non-profit organization celebrating 120 years of making music! The club supports music and the arts in the Mohawk Valley community, presents free concerts, conducts musical outreach throughout the year, and awards competitive scholarships to talented young musicians. 

Donations given to the B Sharp Musical Club are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your support makes our music possible. We hope you enjoy today's performance. If you are not already a member of the B Sharp Musical Club, please consider joining and becoming part of our network in the greater Utica area. Both performing and supporting memberships are available. For details about the club, please visit our website, www.bsharpmusic.org  

Donations to B Sharp may be made on our website www.bsharpmusic.org or checks may be mailed to: B Sharp c/o Elizabeth Evans, Treasurer, 9828 Campbell Rd., Sauquoit, NY 13456 

B Sharp's Programs are funded through financial support from members and friends: 

Anonymous 

Kathleen Tooley Austin 

Henry Bamberger 

Bank of Utica Foundation 

Estate of Edward Behen Bradley 

Estate of Vera S. Brindisi 

Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties Inc. 

Donna DeRosa 

Elizabeth Carville Evans 

Betty Lou Frye 

James Hanosh

Anita Humer

Arlene M. Iagnocco 

Lauralyn Kolb 

John Krause

Elizabeth R. Lemieux PhD. 

M&T Bank 

Judy Marchione 

Brian McGinty 

Mohawk Valley Gives Fund 

Sally Mungari 

John Murphy and Marilee Ensign 

Mary P. Murphy 

NHK Charitable Fund 

Samuel F Pellman Living Trust

Fiona Peters 

Leonarda Priore 

Rosalind Priore 

Ruth Ridgway 

Rome Community Senior Center 

John and Ellen Slater 

Lydia L. Slater 

Stewart's Shops Corporation 

Vicky Stockton 

Sunset Wood Home of Utica 

Sunset Wood Community 

Bill Thistleton 

Tina Toglia 

United Healthcare 

UpMobility Foundation 

Marietta Von Bernuth 

Jon and Sharon West 

Contributions have been made both in honor and in memory of: 

Jean Axelson 

Sally Blatt 

LuAnn Bowen

Edward Behen Bradley 

Vera Brindisi 

Nancy Calocerinos 

Leo J. Carville 

Virgina Hickey 

Arlene M. Iagnocco 

Margaret Johnson 

Mary & Sheila McGinty 

Jane Metzger 

Joanna LaFaro Moore 

Donna Marie Mungari 

Nicholas Priore 

Vivien Harvey Slater

Josette Stern