The purpose of the Brad Schoener Music Fund Lesson Scholarship is to provide instrumental lessons for talented 5th and/or 8th grade students who might not otherwise have the opportunity for further study due to personal circumstances. The awarded student must display a passion for instrumental performance and strong commitment to practice. Scholarship aid is also determined by:
music teacher referral and agreement to mentor the student
Interested Upper Darby School District instrumental students must contact their band or orchestra director for applications. Award recipients will be announced annually at the Upper Darby Music Gala in January. Award recipients will also be invited to be featured performers in the Brad Schoener Music Marathon in June.
2010 Brad Schoener Music Fund Scholarship Winners!
Congratulations to these young Upper Darby students who were awarded $500 each to continue their musical studies privately with professional musicians!
Henry Tirfe – Saxophone
Henry Tirfe is not a typical musician. He isn’t one of those people that can pick up a horn and already sound to it. It took a while for Henry to really get into music; all those years have paid off. Henry Tirfe is on his way on becoming a great, professional musician. This is all how it all started:
When Henry was in fourth grade, he was interested in joining the elementary school music program under the direction of Mr. Brad Schoener. Brad was a great musician who played many instruments including the trumpet, saxophone, piano, harmonica and even the bagpipes. This was someone and something that Henry was really interested in. So Henry chose the saxophone and began playing in his elementary concert and jazz band. In the years to come, Henry was accepted into the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Band, Kimmel Center Jazz Camp, Greater Overbrook String Band, Upper Darby Marching Royals, Upper Darby Indoor Drumline, Upper Darby Jazz Band, and many other musical groups inside and outside of school. These groups (particulary the Kimmel Center) made Henry want to get into music. He met great musicians such as Javon Jackson, Bobby Watson, Simon Shaheen, Kurt Elling, Bobby Watson, Jimmy Cobb and more of the greatest. He also won many awards such as the Outstanding Soloist Award at Welsh Valley Middle School, Drum Major award, the Greg Crichton Memorial Award at Beverly Hills Middle School and lots of others as well. Henry really enjoys performing in the Philadelphia area, making people happy, and just loves playing with great musicians and even with his friends, Yesseh Furaha-Ali and Jared Daley. Henry gives much credit to his first music teacher ever — Mr. Brad Schoener. He lived a great life and he never gave up. He taught everyone a lot in his own way – even when it came to overcoming obstacles and solving problems in life. Without him, Henry would never have known that you can have a great time playing your music. Henry will always remember the man who got him started.
Darius Olega – Trumpet
Darius Olega is a regular 10 year old fifth grade student of Wesbrook Park Elementary. His main interests other than educational video games are karate, swimming, serving in church but most especially playing music. His mother who inspired his musical ambitions died in Florida in 2006 and this has made him want to explore music more. He has three elder brothers who all play two musical instruments in school bands and continue to help, encourage, and sometimes critique Darius on his musical practice. His dream is to continue to develop his talent in music and in the arts.
Lydia Tirfe – Flute, Clarinet, Violin
Lydia Tirfe, 13, is a young girl with an amazing talent. She fell in love with music ever since the 3rd grade. But all throughout her musical journey, she’s been improving at the flute day by day. Lydia was in the 4th grade and has been introduced to the band led by Mr. Brad Schoener. When each instrument was being demonstrated, she kept her eye on the flute. She thought it made the most beautiful sound and when she tried to blow into one, Lydia didn’t know the first thing about the flute. But as she kept practicing, she has been enjoying learning to play the flute. And as it turns out, Lydia was actually doing extremely well! So in the fifth grade she was nominated for district band. Mr. Schoener recommended her for a solo on piccolo on one of the songs that he composed, “A Little Sousa for Yousa”. The night of the performance when she was finished her solo, guest conductor, Dr. William Rapp, complimented Lydia on her outstanding performance. Also, in the middle of the year, Brad Schoener gave Lydia a book with different types of music in it. She flipped right to the first page and played a song from back in the 70’s. It’s called “Theme from Love Story.” She ended up playing it in front of Mr. Schoener and he was astonished. He allowed her to play it for the Bywood Elementary School Winter Concert. Lydia has been encouraged by music and will continue to try and spread it to others.
Immanuel Wilkins – Saxophonist
Immanuel Wilkins studied the saxophone under Mr. Brad Schoener in the 4th and 5th grades at Highland Park Elementary School in the Upper Darby School District. At age 11 he performed our National Anthem for both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also highlighted in a tribute to the late Grover Washington Jr. during the last NBA game played at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Immanuel plays with The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz Ensembles and the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble. He plays piano and bass as well as the saxophone for the Beverly Hills Middle School Jazz Band, Orchestra, Marching, & Concert Bands under the direction of Mr. Tim Blessington with performances in Delaware County and surrounding counties. Immanuel is the saxophonist for Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ Praise Band where he serves every Sunday. Concerts include: West Oak Lane Jazz Festival, Cape May Jazz Festival, The Tony Williams Scholarship Jazz Festival, Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz, Philadelphia City Hall, Capital Building (Harrisburg), Jazz by the Sea (Atlantic City), World Café Live, Philadelphia Art Museum, and various other venues.
Abigail L. – Violin/Saxophone
Abigail is a fifth grade student at Garrettford Elementary School. She started taking violin lessons from Mr. Marty Hyde in fourth grade and decided to begin saxophone lessons at the end of the same school year. Following the advice of her teacher, she continued her violin and saxophone lessons during the summer through the Upper Darby summer program. Besides violin and saxophone, Abigail also teaches herself keyboard. She practices her instruments six days a week. Her other interests include drawing, writing comics, making crafts, and playing computer games.
Brad Schoener Music Fund Lesson Scholarship
The purpose of the Brad Schoener Music Fund Lesson Scholarship is to provide instrumental lessons for talented 5th and/or 8th grade students who might not otherwise have the opportunity for further study due to personal circumstances. The awarded student must display a passion for instrumental performance and strong commitment to practice. Scholarship aid is also determined by:
Interested Upper Darby School District instrumental students must contact their band or orchestra director for applications. Award recipients will be announced annually at the Upper Darby Music Gala in January. Award recipients will also be invited to be featured performers in the Brad Schoener Music Marathon in June.
2010 Brad Schoener Music Fund Scholarship Winners!
Congratulations to these young Upper Darby students who were awarded $500 each to continue their musical studies privately with professional musicians!
Henry Tirfe – Saxophone
Henry Tirfe is not a typical musician. He isn’t one of those people that can pick up a horn and already sound to it. It took a while for Henry to really get into music; all those years have paid off. Henry Tirfe is on his way on becoming a great, professional musician. This is all how it all started:
When Henry was in fourth grade, he was interested in joining the elementary school music program under the direction of Mr. Brad Schoener. Brad was a great musician who played many instruments including the trumpet, saxophone, piano, harmonica and even the bagpipes. This was someone and something that Henry was really interested in. So Henry chose the saxophone and began playing in his elementary concert and jazz band. In the years to come, Henry was accepted into the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Band, Kimmel Center Jazz Camp, Greater Overbrook String Band, Upper Darby Marching Royals, Upper Darby Indoor Drumline, Upper Darby Jazz Band, and many other musical groups inside and outside of school. These groups (particulary the Kimmel Center) made Henry want to get into music. He met great musicians such as Javon Jackson, Bobby Watson, Simon Shaheen, Kurt Elling, Bobby Watson, Jimmy Cobb and more of the greatest. He also won many awards such as the Outstanding Soloist Award at Welsh Valley Middle School, Drum Major award, the Greg Crichton Memorial Award at Beverly Hills Middle School and lots of others as well. Henry really enjoys performing in the Philadelphia area, making people happy, and just loves playing with great musicians and even with his friends, Yesseh Furaha-Ali and Jared Daley. Henry gives much credit to his first music teacher ever — Mr. Brad Schoener. He lived a great life and he never gave up. He taught everyone a lot in his own way – even when it came to overcoming obstacles and solving problems in life. Without him, Henry would never have known that you can have a great time playing your music. Henry will always remember the man who got him started.
Darius Olega – Trumpet
Immanuel Wilkins studied the saxophone under Mr. Brad Schoener in the 4th and 5th grades at Highland Park Elementary School in the Upper Darby School District. At age 11 he performed our National Anthem for both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also highlighted in a tribute to the late Grover Washington Jr. during the last NBA game played at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Immanuel plays with The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz Ensembles and the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble. He plays piano and bass as well as the saxophone for the Beverly Hills Middle School Jazz Band, Orchestra, Marching, & Concert Bands under the direction of Mr. Tim Blessington with performances in Delaware County and surrounding counties. Immanuel is the saxophonist for Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ Praise Band where he serves every Sunday. Concerts include: West Oak Lane Jazz Festival, Cape May Jazz Festival, The Tony Williams Scholarship Jazz Festival, Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz, Philadelphia City Hall, Capital Building (Harrisburg), Jazz by the Sea (Atlantic City), World Café Live, Philadelphia Art Museum, and various other venues.
Abigail is a fifth grade student at Garrettford Elementary School. She started taking violin lessons from Mr. Marty Hyde in fourth grade and decided to begin saxophone lessons at the end of the same school year. Following the advice of her teacher, she continued her violin and saxophone lessons during the summer through the Upper Darby summer program. Besides violin and saxophone, Abigail also teaches herself keyboard. She practices her instruments six days a week. Her other interests include drawing, writing comics, making crafts, and playing computer games.