2026-2027 USA Music Scholarships Announcement

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Posted on May 6, 2026 by Keith Bohnet

Keith Bohnet

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On Monday, April 27, the USA Department of Music announced the 2026-2027 recipients of endowed music scholarships during the Spring Honors Recital in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. These select music students were introduced to the audience by chairperson Dr. Laura Moore; she shared how these particular music students were chosen and what standards they were expected to uphold. Faculty and staff of the Department of Music are grateful to the university family and wider community for the financial support for these deserving student musicians. With this encouragement, and because of the musical and academic focus shown by these special students, the University of South Alabama can truly be an institution of fine teaching and music performance.

If you or someone you know would be interested in endowing a new scholarship or contributing to a current scholarship, please contact Dr. Laura Moore at lauramoore@southalabama.edu. You may also visit the University website for information on the Campaign for the University of South Alabama or visit “Ways to Give at USA” 

The endowed music scholarship recipients and their awards are listed below. Congratulations to all the students and their professors!

Presser Award - Marshall Waites

Laidlaw Scholars - Marisol Hoffmann, Katie Wallace, Marshall Waites, Joy Bagwell

John W. Laidlaw Scholarship - Drake Miller

Harper Scholarship - Landon Roberts

Faulkner Scholarship in Piano Performance - Lydia Van Cleave

Hanlein Piano Scholarship - An Nhi Cao

Wasserman Piano Scholarship - Joy Bagwell

Chester Piano Scholarship - Luke Flowers, Matthew Diffey, Nicasio Montelara-Demick

Ann Greer Adams Piano Scholarship - Mary Helen Marmande

Toomey Percussion Scholarship - Nathanael Slater

Bartels Percussion Scholarship - Ryan Wright

Papastefan Percussion Scholarship - Jacob Alexander, Collin Westland

Bohnet Flute Scholarship - Jaishon Robinson

McGowin Strings Scholarship - Genevieve Batman

Nita Sellers Voice Scholarships - Ethan Hudson, Kendall Thompson

Rose Palmai-Tenser Voice Scholarship - Emily Dickson

Orland Thomas Music Education Scholarship - Sarah Harlin

Gruner Trombone Scholarship - Nathan Sansom

Alexis Atkins JMB Scholarship - Jayda Gregson and Nevaeh Green

Mellick Trumpet Scholarship - Ryan Perry

Jim and Jamie Self Tuba Award - Jaxson Salter

Mobile Big Band Scholarship - Micah Philen, Tristen Bodiford

Jimmy Buffett Memorial Scholarship - Landon Roberts, Ilana Jensen

Aubrey Green Scholarship - Duyen Tran, Michael Madera

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