Holt Scholarship

42nd Annual Competition
Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Ballroom of the Lucie Stern Community Center


Prizes: Henry and Maria Holt Memorial Award
Ellie Silver Memorial Award
Ben DeBolt Memorial Award
Tony Cuevas Memorial Award
Lisa Kalvelage Memorial Award
Nate and Nora Schoenfield Award
Opera in the Schools/Thelma Dry Award

Flyer pdf | Directions pdf


Application Form and Information Letter pdf

For more information, email pat@magic.com, or mail to:
     Holt Memorial Scholarship Fund
     221 Lambert Avenue
     Palo Alto, CA 94306


History of the Competition

When Henry Holt founded West Bay Opera in 1955, his two goals were to provide the community with its own opera company, and to provide the opportunity for young beginning students to get training and experience. After Henry’s death in 1969, his wife Maria Holt assumed the General Directorship of West Bay Opera and continued in that capacity for the next 27 years, maintaining the mission statement for community opera and opportunity for young singers.

In 1970, Maria established the Henry Holt Memorial Fund for the specific purposes of giving students, ages 18 to 26, the experience of competing with other singers before qualified judges, and receiving scholarship awards for the continuance of their studies. Upon Maria’s death in 1996, her committee incorporated the Henry and Maria Holt Memorial Scholarship Fund as a charitable organization and dedicated itself to honoring Henry and Maria and the continuation of the Holt tradition with beginning singers.

We are now conducting our 41st annual competition, with many of Maria’s original committee serving on the Board of Directors. During these past 40 years, we have auditioned well over 1,000 young singers and awarded over 200 scholarships. We are supported by donations only, and virtually every cent is used for awards.

Masterclass

A new facet to our service to young singers is the singers’ annual Masterclass. Six of the auditions participants are invited to perform and learn from internationally famed opera star Luana DeVol, who will share her considerable charm and extensive talent at the Masterclass on Sunday, June 12, 2011.

News
   • Newsletter December 2010 pdf
   • Ben DeBolt Left Wide Legacy (Mountain View Voice, November 12, 2010)

Officers

President
Pat Markevitch
Vice President
Nicolette Holt
Treasurer
Susan Schumann
Secretary
Janet Wright

Directors
Elizabeth Bowman, Barbara Cuevas, Maria Cuevas, Joanne Eagle, Carol Harris, Nan McKenna, Michele Sullivan


Winners of the 2011 Holt Competition

Henry & Maria Holt Memorial Award
Clarissa Lyons
Ellie Silver Award
Evgenia Chaverdova
Tony Cuevas Award
Sonja Krenek
Ben DeBolt Award
Michael Desnoyers
Lisa Kalvelage Award
Molly Mahoney
Nora & Nate Schoenfeld Award
Deborah Rosengaus
OITS/Thelma Dry Award
Madison Smith

West Bay Opera Website | West Bay Opera Annex

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