2009 SCHOLARSHIPS
 

On May 4, 2009, Cascade Symphony celebrated four young scholarship winners at their closing concert of the 2008-2009 season. In order from left to right are:
     Kathleen Shin, flute - Cascade Symphony Scholarship
     Erica Burns, violin - Cascade Symphony Scholarship
     Rachel Wong, violin - Mori Simon Scholarship
     Tedi Simon, wife of the late Mori Simon
     Sun Eun Kang, flute - Cascade Symphony Scholarship

This season, Cascade Symphony was pleased to make the first presentation of the Mori Simon Scholarship, an award reserved for a high school senior of extraordinary musical ability and  accomplishment. The winner, Rachel Wong, violin, is seen here with Tedi Simon, wife of the late Mori Simon, whose generous contribution made this scholarship possible.

The late Mori Simon was a musical icon in the Seattle area for over forty years. He began his musical career as boy, studying the violin. He grew up in San Francisco and eventually worked with such celebrities as Henry Mancini, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Jimmy Durante. He also played with the NBC Staff Orchestra under the direction of Meredith Wilson, composer of Music Man. After moving to Seattle, he played string bass in the Seattle Symphony for 36 years, the last 12 of which he served as the orchestra’s Personnel Manager. With seemingly inexhaustible energy, he also played for the ballet and opera orchestras, opened his own restaurant in the Claremont Hotel, and organized or contracted orchestras around town, including the 5th Avenue Musical Theater Company.

We are grateful to Tedi Simon for making this scholarship possible through a donation in her husband’s memory.

Michael Miropolsky, Music Director of Cascade Symphony,  presents scholarships for further musical study to three outstanding high school seniors. Pictured from left to right are:  Erika Burns, violin, Sun Eun Kang,  flute,  Kathleen  Shin, flute,  Mr. Miropolsky, and Arnie Gunderson, principal oboist and master of ceremonies.