Mt. Lebanon event raises money for music scholarships
Planning midsummer events can be an iffy proposition, but the timing was right for the Keynotes of South Hills’ July 18 fundraiser.
The temperature may have been a little on the high side for the garden party at the Mt. Lebanon home of John and Liz Kanche, but everyone present agreed the clear blue sky of the early evening beat the alternative.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
The Keynotes’ mission is to provide scholarships for talented music students, and as such, some talented musicians entertained at the party. Vocalist Lisa Jaworksi and guitarist Chuck Hankle represent half of the ensemble Lisa Jay and the TriO, which also features her husband, Jeff, on bass and Alan Fear on percussion.
An impromptu violin recital at the garden party was provided by Lucy Kanche, the younger daughter of John and Liz.
“She’s so shy,” her mother commented, wholly ironically.
Lucy also joined sister Tess and cousin Kathryn Hart during the event in selling raffle tickets to help the Keynotes’ cause.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
The organization has given more than $400,000 toward music scholarships since its founding, and members are planning a 50th anniversary celebration for Aug. 18 at the Club at Nevillewood in Collier Township. The event begins at 4 p.m. and features dinner, music and dancing.
Scholarship recipients are selected annually based on a music competition, and this year’s recipients were:
- First place – percussionist Sophie Lauver, a 2019 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate who will attend Northwestern University;
- Second place – Kyle Johnson, a cellist who will be a senior at Carnegie Mellon University;
- Third place – soprano Kristin Howard, who will be a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, and baritone Robert Raso, a graduate student at Eastman School of Music;
- Honorary mention – Jacqueline Tardanico, another soprano who will be a CMU graduate student.
Also, the Phillip Bianco Music Scholarship, honoring a jazz musician and teacher for nearly 40 years at Mt. Lebanon High School, was awarded to Alexis Shulte-Albert, who plays the double bass and will be a freshman at Indiana University.
Scholarships are open to instrumentalists who are younger than 26 and voice students under 30. They must be full-time music majors who are enrolled in a music school or in the music department of a college or university.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Graduating high school students are eligible if they have been accepted for admission and will enroll as full-time music majors in the fall.
Keynotes of South Hills established the scholarship fund in memory of Fay S. Olmsted, who served as the organization’s president and managing director for 20 years. The original $900 donated by the Keynotes in 1970 has grown steadily through investments, memorial tributes, benefit parties and special gifts.
For more information about the organization and the 50th anniversary celebration, contact Lynn Hagan at lhagan@american-healthcare.net or call 412-491-7250.
Harry Funk/The Almanac