Scholarship Winners

The ISO Guilds of Bloomington-Normal & Springfield offer annual scholarship competitions for area young musicians. One of our missions is to encourage the musical development of future symphony orchestra musicians. Scholarship awards fund private lessons, summer music camps, and youth orchestra fees. Auditions are held annually in each community.

2022 Scholarship Winners 

Awarded by the Illinois Symphony Guild of Bloomington-Normal

1st Place - The Brenda Azinger Memorial * Scholarship - $500 each for co-winners

Ryan Nateghpour, Piano
Leart Shabani, Piano

2nd Place - $400 

Vittorio Causarano, Violin

3rd Place - $300 

Eugene Kim, Cello

* Brenda Azinger served as a longtime member of the Board of Directors and as Vice-President of Education with the Illinois Symphony Guild of Bloomington-Normal. She promoted and coordinated many music educational opportunities for Bloomington-Normal youth. Brenda fully believed in the value of music in children's lives. We are pleased to honor Brenda with this memorial scholarship.

Awarded by the Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield

Junior Divisions Grades 5-8

1st Place - $350

Analiese Criss, Flute

2nd Place - $300 

Aiden Lee, Violin

3rd Place - $250 

Catalina Lithila, Oboe

Senior Divisions Grades 9-12

1st Place - $350

Zuriel Patterson, Harp

2nd Place - $300 

Sol Veenstra, Clarinet

3rd Place - $250 

Gabriel Villegas, Piano

4th Place - $200

Abigail Martin, Clarinet

These scholarships are funded by the generosity of patrons, guild members, and donors. If you would like to honor a loved one through a scholarship donation, contact Darrin Burnett, Director of Development by phone at (217) 522-2838 Ext. 3 or by email at dburnett@ilsymphony.org.