Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Annual Music Scholarship Competition

This scholarship is designed to give musically gifted students the opportunity to perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra on the stage of Severance Hall, and also to receive a cash award.

Entry is open to all students up to age 18 residing and attending school or homeschool in the seven-county Greater Cleveland region, namely the counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina or Lorain. Applicants may be of any age up to 18, but must not be attending college or university.

Contestants can be singers, dancers, or instrumentalists. They must be prepared to perform a full-length musical selection from memory not to exceed 10 minutes. The piece selected must be available to be performed with symphony orchestra. The choice of the selection may be drawn from standard popular music repertoire, including songs, dances or instrumental solos found in Broadway musicals, jazz or light classics.

Anyone with questions as to repertoire or the suitability of their selection may write to Loren Toplitz, at lorentoplitz@clevelandpops.com.

The first prize winner of the competition will perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at one of their regularly scheduled concerts at Severance Hall or Playhouse Square, and will receive a $1,000 cash award. The second prize winner will perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at an outdoor concert or special event and will receive a $500 cash award.

2024 Scholarship Competition

Auditions for applicants to be announced.

See official Rules and Requirements here.

To apply fill out the form below:

Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Music Scholarship Competition Application

Name*
First Last
Instrument/Vocalist/Dancer*
Address*
Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
County*
Phone*
Age*
Grade and school currently attended*
Email*
Instrumental, vocal or dance instructor*
Name of Accompanist*
Selection to be performed*
Composer*
Duration of piece*
Where is this piece from?

(musical, stage performance, other, etc.)
Publisher of orchestral arrangements*
Consent*
I agree
By checking this box, I agree to the following:
I am a resident and attend school in one of the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina or Lorain in the State of Ohio.
I will participate in the competition, according to the rules and requirements established by The Cleveland Pops
Orchestra.
If declared a scholarship winner, I will be able to perform with The Cleveland Pops Orchestra at
Severance Hall on a date to be determined by Conductor Carl Topilow.
Signature of Parent or Guardian*

By submitting my name above, I agree to the following. My child is a resident and attends school in one of the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina or Lorain in the State of Ohio. They will participate in the competition, according to the rules and requirements established by The Cleveland Pops Orchestra. If declared a scholarship winner, they will be able to perform with The Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severance Hall on a date to be determined by Conductor Carl Topilow. I give my approval for my child to participate in the Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Music Scholarship Competition.

Previous Winners

2023 Co-Winner

Eivissa Sorolla, violin

2023 Co-Winner

Sabrina Kerze, piano

2022:

Alexandra Newman, vocalist
Lindsey Ross, vocalist

2021:

Daniel Colaner, piano
Moshi Tang, violin; currently attending Harvard
Calista Zajac, vocalist; 2023 Dazzle Awards Best Actress

2019:

Julia Schilz, violin; attending The Juilliard School

2018:

Elizabeth Huang, violin; founder of the nonprofit group, Youth Bridging Through Arts
Alex Zhu, violin

2017:

Kate Klika, vocalist; performed in Lyric State Company’s production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Célina Bethoux, violin; 2021 Junior Silver Medal Lumière Quartet at Fischoff National Chamber Music Association

2016:

Phoenix Avalon, violin; graduate of The Juilliard School; member of the Isidore String Quartet
J.R. Heckman, vocalist; graduate of Tisch School of The Arts; producer of 2 benefit concerts for Josh Groban’s Find Your Light Foundation

2015:

Hannah Kulawiak, vocalist
Sean Yongjoo Lim, violin

2014:

Jieming Tang, violin; graduate of The Juilliard School

2013:

Lewis Zou, piano
Maria Monday (Beltavski), violin; member of Firelands Symphony, the Cleveland Pops, Principal Second Violin of the Mansfield Symphony

2012:

Jiana Peng, piano; released her debut album, Chopin Preludes and Other Works in 2022

2011:

Kaley Ann Voorhees, vocalist; recently performed in the Broadway and International Tours of Prince of Broadway
Sophia Madorsky, vocalist

2010:

James Thompson, violin; member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program

2009:

Alexis Floyd, vocalist; portrays Neff in the Netflix series Inventing Anna

2008:

Sarah Arnold, violin

2007:

Chad Hoopes, violin; guest artist at the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland, the Rheingau Festival, & at Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Meredith Kochan, vocalist

2006:

Caroline Goulding, violin; has released 3 albums

2005:

Jerry Lang, II, piano

2004:

Annie Marie Sivertson, vocalist

2003:

Yihao Wu, piano

2002:

Shantelle Courvoisier Jackson and Antonio Brown, dancers
Lisa Moore, vocalist
Riley Richard, saxophone; International Billboard Recording Artist

2001-02:

Robbie Spackey, saxophone

2001:

Gina DiBello, violin; member of the First Violin section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Kelly Pekar, vocalist – Recent Projects

2000:

Nicholas DiEugenio, violin; curator of the upcoming The Gut Instinct Chamber Music Project (2025)

If you have further questions, please contact (216) 765-7677.

Your tax-deductible gift to the Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Memorial Music Scholarship Fund is an investment in the future of fine music. Your gift will be acknowledged in the Cleveland Pops program book. Please send your contribution to our office OR fill out our online donation form.

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