The Savannah Friends of Music awarded over $55,000 to the region’s musical organizations and scholars at its annual awards luncheon at the Plantation Club on Skidaway Island.

This year’s grant recipients were awarded a total of $55,000 and included leading regional organizations: American Traditions Competition, Armstrong Youth Orchestra, Esther Garrison School for Visual and Performing Arts, Rise Chorales, Savannah Music Festival, Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Savannah VOICE Festival and Sponsors of New and Talented Artists (Sonata).

Additionally, The Savannah Friends of Music has awarded scholarship money to high school students, Joel H. Ballard, Nicholas Bradley, Rebekah Branch, Elija Coles, Grace K. Garnett, Raheem Gordon, McGregor Koenig, Jasmine Lin, Calie Peterson, Arnold Rose, Mia Rowe, Julie Sellman, Daniel Spear, and Hanna Suddath, who will use the funds to support their music camps, tuition, and lessons.

The scholarship winners were chosen by a committee who factored in each applicant's background, interests, and accomplishments, placing a heightened importance on how students described the positive impacts the summer music program would have on their musical experience.

President of the Savannah Friends of Music, Raymond Patricio said “Since the Savannah Friends of Music was established in 2003, it has been our great pleasure to donate over $750,000 to promote music education in Savannah.  I must thank my hard working board and members for all they do to raise funds to enable us to continue this tradition.”