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Fourteen talented instrumentalists and vocalists will vie for thousands of dollars in scholarships at the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation’s (PASF) annual competition April 27. Finalists were selected during auditions March 28-29 at the Music Academy of the West’s Weinmann Hall in Montecito.
The finalists will compete for cash prizes at the PASF Competition concert, which has four divisions: Junior Vocal, Adult Vocal, Junior Instrumental, and Adult Instrumental. This year, some $27,000 in scholarships will be awarded to the finalists.
The audition committee, comprised of Deborah Bertling, PASF Board president; Erin Bonski-Evans, secretary; and directors Jill Felber, David McKee, and Kristine Pacheco-Bernt, selected the following finalists from a field of adult and youth musicians.
Adult Instrumental Finalists:
• Cam Audras, violist
• Alice Dring, violinist
• Ellen Butler, pianist
Adult Vocal Finalists:
• Ariana Horner Sutherland, soprano
• Xeni Tziouvaras, mezzo-soprano
Junior Instrumental Finalists:
• Skylar Abello, violinist
• Matvey Ioffe, pianist
• Seungyoo Kim-Jung, violinist
• Elisha Wu, pianist
• Annabelle Zhang, pianist
Junior Vocal Finalists:
• Arturo Cabrera Balaguera
• Amelia Checketts
• Aria Bonski Evans
• Nikki Seppala Kurtis
“Witnessing the talent of these young musicians each year is truly inspiring,” said Bertling.
“Music is a vital part of the human experience, enriching our lives in profound ways, and these young musicians represent the future of this vital art form,” Bertling said. “It’s why the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation believes in nurturing this talent and providing opportunities for them to flourish.
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“We invite the Santa Barbara community to come, be moved by their performances, and celebrate the extraordinary musical talent that is emerging from our own backyard.”
Founded in 1982, the PASF provides financial support to deserving vocal and instrumental students in Santa Barbara County. The annual competition inspires young musicians to pursue excellence and helps further their development as artists.
The Junior Vocal Division, announced last year, was created in response to feedback from a symposium held in February 2024 with leading arts educators. The category is dedicated to singers under the age of 17.
An additional $6,000 in scholarship funds is available to support the new division. The scholarships can be used for music lessons, tuition, summer programs, or to improve instruments.
Since 2023, PASF has awarded some $915,000 in scholarships and grants, benefiting more than 5,000 students annually.
In addition to the competition, PASF provides about $40,000 each year in grants to local music education programs, including the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Opera Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony.
The grants help fund afterschool lessons, summer music camps, and outreach programs that introduce young students to the performing arts, ensuring the arts remain accessible to all.
For more about PASF, visit pasfsb.org.
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