Scholarship Program

This is the 12th year that West Hartford Women’s Chorale will offer scholarships to deserving seniors in a Greater Hartford high school. Applicants are chosen because they have been active participants in their high school music program throughout their time in school and plan to continue with music in some capacity in college. We hope that these $1500 scholarships will help support two deserving seniors with their dreams for the future.

2022 Scholarship Winners:  David Gardner and William Calhoun

David Gardner, an outstanding student at Hall High School in West Hartford, is a member of the award-winning Concert Jazz Band, playing Double Bass and Bass Guitar. David is not only a very accomplished musician, but also a natural teacher, teaching private lessons and acting as a student teacher at the middle school.  Aside from his academics and extensive music life, he is captain of the cross country team and a small business owner!  David will major in applied math or engineering in college with a minor in music.  He also hopes to play with an orchestra at the college or university he chooses or with a city orchestra where he attends school.   He also plans to play “Virtual Bedside Concerts,” a virtual platform that facilitates college and professional musicians to play concerts for healthcare workers and patients.

William (Liam) Calhoun is a senior at Rham High School in Hebron, who has been playing guitar since age two!  He is a classical guitarist who has studied a wide range of instruments, including drums, piano, alto saxophone and studies voice as well.  True to his heritage, Liam plays Celtic fingerstyle guitar, bagpipes and the bodhran (a Celtic handheld percussion instrument) and more.  Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Liam has performed at many public performances, including Celtic performances in Connecticut and beyond.  His music director, Nicholas Kokus, described Liam as humble, polite, always willing to help others. He shared that “[Liam’s} skills as a percussionist, guitarist, and bass player initially made it difficult for me to decide what role would serve him and the band best.”  A top scholar in all areas, he is also a three-season runner and captain of all three teams.  Liam plans to major in music performance (classical guitar) in college.