Borah High School graduate Fernando Perez was overcome by joy last July to be named the first-place winner of the 2020 Donald Runnicles Musical Arts Scholarship Competition.
“I’m thinking about all the memories I’ve had with music,” the flutist said between gasps, “my joy of playing with other musicians and being to participate at all, and of all my teachers who have been fostering me.”
…This year the prizes are even bigger: $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000. Audition videos from graduating high school seniors from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana poured in at the start of the year, and a panel of three judges has narrowed the field to six semifinalists.
On Monday morning these six will perform for the judges, who will eliminate three of them. Then, starting at 5 p.m., each finalist will perform a 20-minute program on stage at Walk Festival Hall for a live audience, after which judges will deliberate and name first-, second- and third-place scholarship recipients.
Attendance at the competition finals is open to the public and free, though registration is requested.
