McPherson String Scholarship
The McPherson String Scholarship provides $300 awards to help string players in grades 7–12 continue their musical training through private lessons or summer music camps. Created by Dr. and Mrs. Richard McPherson in 1998, this fund supports students across the region through an annual application process.
Applications for the 2026 McPherson String Scholarship are closed.
Scholarship guidelines can be found here.
2026-27 Keller Memorial Scholarship & Concerto Competition
Congratulations to the two recipients of the 2026-27 Keller Memorial Scholarship Award to be featured as soloists with the Lafayette Symphony in May 2027:
Tiana Lin Cello, Senior Division
Jacob So Piano, Junior Division
Keller Concerto Competition
The Allan W. Keller Memorial Award was established in 1975 to inspire and aid talented area youths in their musical aspirations. This annual competition has allowed young artists to share their musical gifts as featured soloists with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and to advance their musical studies with a monetary scholarship.
The Competition includes two divisions, Junior and Senior, with one winner selected from each. The Senior Division winner performs as a featured soloist with the Orchestra. The Junior Division winner is awarded a 30 minute LSO sponsored recital before an LSO Mainstage concert.
View competition guidelines here
Previous Recipients of the Allan Keller Memorial Award
2025-2026
Aria Bakhit, Cello
Finnan White, Oboe
2024-2025
Mei Mei Rossi, Violin
Felicia Xie, Piano
Jessica Xie, Piano
2023-2024
Madison Cantey, Voice
Tara Kim, Piano
Olivia Hodge, Violin
2022-2023
Aaron Du, Violin
Jack Ma, Piano
2019-2020
Lily Shen, Piano
Christina Shi, Violin
Peter Zhang, Violin
2018-2019
Song Kim, Piano
Julia Kostraba, Cello
Lily Kostraba, Violin
2017-2018
Cameron Gilman, Euphonium
Rebecca Salo, French Horn
Eugene Zhang, Piano
2016-2017
Elizabeth Ewigleben, Voice
Susanna Harmon, Piano
Yi Fei Heng, Piano
2015-2016
Elana Fiorini, Voice
Samuel Hyde, Piano
Steven Weiner, Horn
2014-2015
Ann Mozina, Flute
Elena Escudero, Voice
Daniel Hallett, Marimba
2013-2014
Ann Mozina, Violin
Christina Shi, Piano
Elisa Germond, Voice
2012-2013
Clara Abel, Cello
David Du, Piano
Benjamin Davis, Voice
2011-2012
Maria Bell, Flute
Bryan Park, Cello
Christopher Park, Violin
2010-2011
Joseph Frank, Cello
Sarah Collins, Flute
Mark Timmerman, Violin
2009-2010
Sarah Leeper, Voice
Christopher Park, Piano
Lydia Umlauf, Violin
2008-2009
Katie Christenson, Flute
Anna O’Connor, Clarinet
Jason Wu, Piano
2007-2008
Christian Schrock, Cello
Jinty McTavish, Violin
Nathan Kross, Piano
2006-2007
Matthew Iles, Piano
Robert Burrows, Percussion
Shie Kantor, Voice
2005-2006
Alexander Dubikovsky, Piano
Nicholas Nesbitt, Voice
Stephen Torres, Piano
2004-2005
Keliah Brown, Flute
Daniel Carr, Piano
Joowon Kim, Violin
2003-2004
John Tian, Piano
Vanessa VanSickle, Bassoon
Allison Devery, Voice
2002-2003
Michael Catlin, Piano
Hannah Germond, Piano
Clio Tilton, Viola
2001-2002
Christine Krushen, Clarinet
Crystal Mosser, Voice
Joseph Lee Roswarski, Soprano Sax
2000-2001
Jonathan Nakajima, Violin
Will Dunlap, Cello
Stephanie Lin, Piano
1999-2000
Ted Arthur, Piano
Bethany Jones, Violin
Matt Mindrum, Clarinet
1998-1999
Gitanjali Mathur, Voice
Yi-Ching Ong, Piano
Gwyn Zawisza, Flute
1997-1998
Carrie Pedigo, Voice
Danae Witter, Violin
Brad Whiteley, Piano
1996-1997
Yi-Ching Ong, Violin
Ming-The Sun, Violin
Jay Ro, Violin
1995-1996
Claudia Heller, Piano
Danae Witter, Violin
Christina Bergstrom, Piano
1994-1995
Eric Goldman, Bassoon
Elsie Huang, Piano
Stephanie Mann, Voice
1993-1994
Leslie Sun, Piano
Natalie Mann, Voice
Yi-Ping Ong, Violin
1992-1993
Malini Rao, Violin
David Knill, Trumpet
Bess Heller, Piano
1990-1991
Brad Witter, Clarinet
Joo-Kyung Park, Piano
Kristin Anderson, Piano
1989-1990
Stephanie Pedretti, Flute
Libby Yin Field, Piano
Lisa M. Oberlander, Clarinet
1988-1989
Beth May, Piano
Vicki Ting, Piano
Julie Veach, French Horn
1987-1988
Cathy Pellegrino, Clarinet
Susan Tsai, Piano
Young K. Ro, Violin
1986-1987
Cindee Luh, Violin
Catherine Anderson, Flute
Libby Field, Piano
1985-1986
Christopher Rund, Double Bass
Christopher Layer, Bassoon
Margaret Lin, Violin
1984-1985
Julie Myers, Cello
Janice Lin, Piano
Jolyon Pegis, Cello
1983-1984
Jane Price, Violin
Doug Witter, Clarinet
Marian Lin, Piano
1982-1983
Michael Lin, Violin
Meredith Miller, Piccolo
Byron Schenkman, Piano
1981-1982
Margaret Lin, Violin
Meredith Miller, Flute
Jonathan Yackel, Piano
1979-1980
Ruth Price, Piano
Todd Gipson, Clarinet
Mindy Fuchs, Flute
Rebecca Barber, Voice
1978-1979
Catherine Overhauser, Oboe
Adaline Schemel, Piano
Mark Nead, Marimba
1976-1977
Lawrence Anderson, Trumpet
Moungi Baouendi, Violin
Pamela Hoffman, Voice
1975-1976
Bill Holt, Piano
Charlotte Hubert, Voice
Samuel Whitney Smith, Cello
1974-1975
Mary Lee Boes, Voice
Mark Eisele, Violin
John Lynn, French Horn
Carla Perez, Voice
Sara Wollan, Cello