Pure and sweet, Ayriel Mawby's soprano voice filled the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church Thursday afternoon.
The Traverse City St. Francis High School senior presented three songs during the Grand Traverse Musicale's annual Christmas Program, which also serves as the organization's sole fundraiser every year. Money raised at the craft and bake sale and from ticket sales benefit area band, orchestra, vocal and piano students in grades 7-12. Every year, the organization awards scholarships in each discipline; for 2007, they have earmarked four $500 scholarships and four $200 runner up scholarships.
Mawby, the vocal runner up in 2005 and the vocal winner in 2006, was thrilled to sing before the appreciative audience of about 75 attendees.
"I thought they were really appreciative, it is always so comfortable singing in front of people smiling back at you and you know they love you no matter what,” said Mawby, who plans to study music next year in college. "That kind of encourages me to just sing and not worry about what people think.”
Mawby used her winnings of $350 for 2006 to help defray expenses of attending Interlochen Arts Academy's All-State camp last summer.
"[Camp] was really awesome and I was so happy that I got to receive that,” she said of the scholarship.
Other 2006 scholarship winners from last winter's audition were Hannah Brammer, vocal, Sebastion Kulbacki, vocal runner up, Andrew Bahle, instrument winner, Britt Shink, instrument winner, Josie Ballast, piano winner and Andrew Maxbauer, instrument runner up.
The Central High School Symphony Strings also performed at the Grand Traverse Musicale's Christmas Program, under the director of Ellen Boyer, and Nancy Landfair and Mary Anne Rivers presented An Appalachian Christmas program featuring a variety of folk songs and instruments.
Bringing 21 musicians to the show, Boyer noted that it is an invaluable experience for her students, helping them meld and grow as a group.
"So much is gained when a performing group can get out into the community — and even better when they are performing for a knowledgeable and appreciative audience,” she said. "Just like a sports team, there is only so much rehearsing a group can do. The real test is to 'play the game.'”
Boyer also praised the Grand Traverse Musicale for their contributions to young musicians, now the central mission of the 74-year-old group. The Musicale also hosts musical programs throughout the year in addition to giving away more than $30,000 in annual scholarships over the decades.
"The scholarship program that Musicale has been supporting has had a huge impact on our music program,” she said. "Our community is lucky to have a group that exists to nourish themselves musically and to spread that nourishment to others.”
The Grand Traverse Musicale's scholarship program will hold auditions for the 2007 season on February 13 at the First Congregational Church. The funds available this year are a jump from previous year's thanks in part to member Liz Bannister's donation of all proceeds from her second CD. Also boosting the count is a successful bake sale before Thursday's program as well as solid ticket sales to the event.
"We used to give much less but the music costs have gone up so dramatically,” noted Grace Herta, scholarship chairman for the group. "The amount we give changes every year because of how much is on hand, our mission is to give so we give it all away.”
For more information on the Grand Traverse Musicale, contact Marilyn Sisk at 947-0562 or Mary Anne Rivers at 267-5058. Information and applications for the scholarships are available from area private and school music teachers as well as from Herta, who can be reached at 264-8715.