Six talented young musicians perform in the annual CSA Honors Recital at Northern Illinois University on Saturday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m.  All are recipients of this year’s CSA Talent Scholarship, awarded annually by the NIU Community School of the Arts.  Admission is free and the public is invited to experience this very special music performance in the Recital Hall at the NIU Music Building. 

 Auditions for these six scholarship awards are held in January each year, when the young musicians play their pieces from memory before a three-judge panel.  Each winner receives $250.00.  The NIU Community School of the Arts has awarded 138 talent scholarships to young musicians in the community since 1996.

 Ranging in age from 8 to 15, this year’s CSA Talent Scholarship winners are from DeKalb, Sycamore, and Aurora.  They will perform classical works by H. Lichner, K. Bohm, W.H. Potstock, F. Kreisler, J.S. Bach and J. Massenet. 

 At the elementary age level, Lauren Marberry (violin) is eight years old and attends third grade at South Prairie Elementary School in Sycamore.  Lauren is the daughter of Nate and Melissa Marberry, and she studies Suzuki violin with NIU Suzuki Strings program director Ann Montzka Smelser.  Maia Clapp (piano) is ten years old and attends Jefferson Elementary School as a fifth grader in DeKalb.  Maia is the daughter of Laura Duhau and Lenny Clapp, and she studies Suzuki piano at the CSA with Marilyn Montzka.  

 At the junior age level, Stephanie Kim (violin) is twelve years old and in the seventh grade at Sycamore Middle School.  Stephanie is the daughter of Soo-Yon Choi and In-Sop Kim, and she studies violin with CSA teacher Hanna Bingham.  Vaishnavi Sharma (violin) is thirteen years old and attends Fischer Middle School as a seventh grader in Aurora.  Vaishnavi is the daughter of Viswanathan and Niranjana Sharma, and she studies Suzuki violin with Ann Montzka Smelser.

 At the senior age level, Reilly Farrell (violin) is fourteen years old and is a freshman at DeKalb High School.  Reilly is the son of Robb and Tamara Farrell, and he studies Suzuki violin with Laurie Rodriguez.  Erin Templin (violin) is fifteen years old and attends Sycamore High School as a sophomore.  Erin is the daughter of Kristal and Dan Templin, and she studies Suzuki violin with Ann Montzka Smelser.

 The money for these awards comes from the NIU Community School scholarship fund.  In addition to talent scholarships, the CSA also awards need-based scholarships twice each year.  Since 1993, more than 800 scholarships have been awarded to area students pursuing their study of the arts with the community school. 

 The NIU Community School of the Arts offers lessons, classes, and ensembles in music and visual art.  For more information, visit www.csa.niu.edu or call (815) 753-1450.