| June 9, 2009 CONTACT: Dr. James Rennier, dean, 806-651-2777, jrennier@wtamu.edu
Dr. Edward Kahler, department head, 806-651-2843, ekahler@wtamu.edu
Emmanuel Lopez, Harrington String Quartet, 806-651-2853, elopez@wtamu.edu
Dr. Keith Redpath, Harrington String Quarter, 806-651-2823, kredpath@wtamu.edu COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu University Awards String Scholarships CANYON, Texas—The Department of Music at West Texas A&M University has awarded string quartet scholarships to five incoming freshmen and renewed existing scholarships for three WTAMU students for the 2009-2010 academic year. Each string scholarship award is for $4,000 and will be given in $2,000 increments for the fall and spring semesters. Students receiving the scholarships will participate in University string trios and/or quartets throughout the year. They must be full-time students, majoring in music and maintaining a 2.5 overall GPA. “Just like in athletics, we need significant scholarships to attract the most talented students,” Dr. Keith Redpath, violinist with the Harrington String Quartet and Harrington lecturer of music, said. “It is in part because of these string quartet scholarships that we have been able to attract leading string players. These students receive large offers from other institutions, but with these scholarships, we can offer not only financial awards, but also a unique experience.” Drew Byers—cello, a freshman music major from Plano, will come to WTAMU as one of the string scholarship recipients. He began studying with Emmanuel Lopez, cellist with the Harrington String Quartet and Harrington lecturer of music, in January 2009, and has been involved in programs in the Guymon, Okla., area where he performs for children K-12. Cole Craven—cello, a freshman music performance major from Amarillo, also will receive a $4,000 scholarship. He began studying with Lopez in 2007 and became a member of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra that same year. Noah Littlejohn—cello, a freshman music education major from Amarillo, is another scholarship recipient. Littlejohn has been studying with Lopez since 2007, and he was named the assistant principal cellist of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra that same year. He took second chair at All-State in February 2009 during the Texas Music Educators Association convention, marking him as the first cellist from Amarillo to have that position in more than 17 years. Littlejohn also was the grand prize winner of the Amarillo Symphony’s Young Performers competition. Lynsi Porterfield—violin, a freshman music performance major of Amarillo, is another scholarship recipient. She is one of only two high school violin students from the Texas Panhandle to make the All-State Orchestra the last two years. Porterfield also is a member of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. Jesus Rodriquez—violin, a freshman music major from El Paso, is coming to WTAMU as a scholarship recipient at the recommendation of his high school teacher. Rodriquez and his teacher were impressed by the Harrington String Quartet’s visits to El Paso over the past few years, and he is excited about the opportunity the scholarship offers. “The Student String Quartet Scholarship is one of the only tools we have as teachers to attract and educate highly qualified music students at WTAMU,” Lopez said. “Its existence and continued availability as a recruiting tool is an indispensable resource to our music program and a successful outcome. “Through the study of chamber music, students not only learn critical music skills and the history of music but also essential human qualities of what it means to work closely with their peers. It is an intensely interpersonal activity which prepares them to be useful and fully rounded professionals in life.” WTAMU students who received renewed string scholarships include Heather Sechrist—violin, a junior music performance major from Amarillo; Gary McMillan—viola, a sophomore music education major from Odessa; and Irma-Esther Arambula—viola, a junior music performance major from Laredo. —WTAMU— | 
