Arts Council Awards 3 Scholarships to Royal Oak Seniors

The Royal Oak Arts Council awarded three $1,000 scholarship awards this past week to Royal Oak High School Seniors who were seen as exceptional arts students.

Ten candidates were viewed for contributions to their overall academic achievements, dedication to their high school’s goals in their chosen art fields, dedication and participation to their high school, and classmates, their creativity and dedication to their own talents in their chosen art fields, the quality of the application, their financial need and finally the direction and declaration to their future involvement in the arts. 

Letters from teachers and works submitted were strong influences in our decision.

The three winners of the 2013 Royal Oak Arts Council Scholarships of $1,000 each go to Leah Linenfelser for vocal and instrumental music; Michael O’Brien for instrumental music and original musical writings; Amelia Stecker for language arts and creative writing.

Leah Linenfelser

Linenfelser has included extensive resumes for both vocal music and instrumental music. Under vocal she has Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus performing in La Boehme, Tosca and children’s operas “The Very Last Green Thing” and The Maker of Illusion” Two years performing the Nutcracker at the Fox with DSO. Also, ROHS Choir attended Blue Lake fine Arts Camp, and five years with the Royal Oak Children’s Choir. Under instrumental music Linenfelser plays clarinet and Bass clarinet. Linenfelser is a member of the U of M Michigan Youth Ensemble Women’s Chorale. She also plays tenor saxophone in marching band where she is a section leader and a band manager. Linenfelser lists ROHS Marching Band, ROHS Symphony Band, ROHS Concert Band.

Recommendations for the award came from Dave Jensen ROHS Band and Orchestra Director, Dianna Hochella conductor and assistant director of Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s chorus, and Julie Skadsem Director of the University of Michigan Youth Ensemble Women’s chorale. All are wonderful letters about Linenfelser.

Linenfelser will attend Wooster College in Ohio. Linenfelser writes this scholarship will ensure that vocal music remains a part of her everyday life.

Michael O’Brien

O’Brien plays guitar, drums, trumpet and piano. In high school has been in the marching band, jazz band, jazz ensemble, symphony band, pit orchestra and music recording club.

Recommendation for the award were filed by Ann Maudlin Royal Oak High School language arts teacher and Jim Bowker counselor

Work submitted a CD with all of the songs written and recorded by O’Brien.

The scholarship will help pay for O’Brien's tuition at Wayne State. He is going to work toward a minor in music.

Amelia Stecker

Stecker is Editor in Chief of Noesis Royal Oak High School creative writing magazine. She has been in National Honor Society all four years at ROHS and has participated in giving 50 hours annually. Stecker also is a member of the varsity and junior varsity fast-pitch softball. Stecker has been involved with model united Nations, received the outstanding citizen award. Employed at Japheth School, an independent school in Madison Heights as an after school care assistant in 3-5 year olds in latchkey program.

Recommendations submitted were from Kathleen Eischeid Royal Oak High School Language Arts teacher, and Sandra Parker Karolak, teacher.

Stecker submitted three examples of her published poetry from a 2013 Scholastic award.

Stecker is planning on attending Albion College. She will study Linguistics, English, Writing and Communications.

Source: Royal Oak Arts Council