The Alden awards 11 young performing artists 2023 Macdonald Scholarships

The Alden at the McLean Community Center has awarded scholarships to 11 local high school students through the 2023 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition. The competition began with a preliminary audition in February and culminated with final competitions on stage at The Alden on  April 19. 

The James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition encourages artistic achievement and promotes study in the arts by high school students who reside or attend school in the McLean district (Small Tax District 1A, Dranesville). Scholarship prizes of $1,200 are awarded to students placing first in each of four categories: Dance, Instrumental Music, Theatre and Vocal Music. Second-place winners are awarded $800 and third-place winners win $400. In 2020, the First place Instrumental Music Award was named in honor of Anita Lamkin, a longtime friend of young musicians and supporter of music performances in McLean.

This year’s winners are:

Dance

First Place: Melina Turnage, McLean High School

Second Place:  Olivia Gilmore, Langley High School

Third Place:  Sicilia Oliver, McLean High School

Instrumental Music

First Place: Goldie Woods, McLean High School

Second Place: Sophia  Lin, Thomas Jefferson

Third Place: Kian Choi, McLean High School

Theater

First Place: Abby Joe, Langley High School

Second Place: Scarlett Spano, Langley High School

Third Place:  Michaela Pearce, McLean High School

Vocal Music

First Place: Lily Chopus, Langley High School

Second Place: Aditya Gupta, Langley High School

Third Place:  Michaela Pearce, McLean High School