A student at Hall High School is one of two recipients of a West Hartford Women’s Chorale Scholarship for 2022.

Submitted

David Gardner, an outstanding student and musician at Hall High School in West Hartford, has been chosen to receive the West Hartford Women’s Chorale 2022 Scholarship Award.

The scholarship is available to graduating seniors from Greater Hartford area high schools who have been student musicians active in their high school music program throughout their time in high school and who plan to continue with music in some capacity in college. The WHWC recognizes candidates who choose to share their gifts and their time with others, representing the ideals of our chorale. Due to the generosity of Chorale contributors, two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded in 2022.

David is a member of the award-winning Concert Jazz Band, playing Double Bass and Bass Guitar. He is also a member of Solisti, a select string group with both Hall and Conard students. David is not only a very accomplished musician, but also a natural teacher, teaching private lessons and acting as a student teacher at the middle school level. Aside from his academics and extensive music life, he is captain of the cross-country team and a small business owner. David will major in applied math or engineering in college with a minor in music. He also hopes to play with an orchestra at the college or university he chooses or with a city orchestra where he attends school. He also plans to play “Virtual Bedside Concerts,” a virtual platform that facilitates college and professional musicians to play concerts for healthcare workers and patients.

Liam Calhoun was awarded a West Hartford Women’s Chorale scholarship. Courtesy photo

William (Liam) Calhoun, a senior at RHAM High School in Hebron, was also awarded a 2022 scholarship. William has been playing guitar since age 2. He is a classical guitarist who has studied a wide range of instruments, including drums, piano, alto saxophone, and studies voice as well. True to his heritage, Liam plays Celtic fingerstyle guitar, bagpipes and the bodhran (a Celtic handheld percussion instrument) and more. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Liam has performed at many public performances, including Celtic performances in Connecticut and beyond. His music director, Nicholas Kokus, described Liam as humble, polite, always willing to help others. He shared that “[Liam’s} skills as a percussionist, guitarist, and bass player initially made it difficult for me to decide what role would serve him and the band best.” A top scholar in all areas, he is also a three-season runner and captain of all three teams. Liam plans to major in music performance (classical guitar) in college.

The West Hartford Women’s Chorale is a non-audition women’s community choir who supports the development of student musicians through an annual scholarship. This year marks the 12th scholarship award offered by the WHWC.

For more information about the WHWC or the annual scholarship, go to www.whwchorale.org.

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