Celebrating its 142nd season, the Mozart Club annually awards scholarships to worthy high school seniors planning music careers. The club rewarded Donovan Gomez of Jamestown High School and Trenton Shutters of Southwestern High School $1,000 each with musical plaques. Both private vocal students of Marjorie Switala, the singers responded with beautiful performances accompanied by Sue Huther, the choral teacher at Southwestern School. Representing the best qualities of today’s youth, the students delighted their rapt audience.

Shutters performed the Baroque composition “Pieta, Signore” by Stradella. Shutters, a valuable member of the Southwestern Choraliers, performed as Captain Joseph Riser in the March musical “The Hello Girls” and even built a small recording studio in his basement showcasing his singing on his own YouTube channel. Often heard singing our “National Anthem” at sports events, Shutters plays trumpet in the band, runs on the cross country and track team, plays hockey, and is a member of the National Honor Society plus other clubs. After auditioning on May 4, Shutters won $500 from the Chautauqua County Music Teachers Association. Shuttersplans to attend Youngstown State University as a double major in music performance and political science. He aspires to become an intellectual property attorney dealing with contractual law for performers.

Gomez sang the well-known “If I Can’t Love Her” from “Beauty and the Beast” by Menken, Ashman, and Rice. In March, Gomez wowed audiences with his professional-quality performance as Tevye in JHS’ “Fiddler on the Roof.” Active in Little Theater, Gomez works with younger students in Little Guilders and performed in Conference All-State and Area All-State choirs after earning a score of 100 on an NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) grade six vocal solo. A classroom leader and peer tutor, Gomez maintains an excellent GPA while working at Wegmans and donating hundreds of hours of community service. Donovan looks forward to attending SUNY Fredonia in the musical theater department.

Current high school juniors intending to major in music can apply for a Mozart Club scholarship next spring via the information provided by their music teachers. The program committee for 2022-23 will meet soon; musicians who would like to perform for the group may contact them via email at mozartclubofjamestown@gmail.com. 2021-22 performers included Houghton College’s “Acclaim Duo,” Jamestown High School Madrigal Singers, and pianist Ron McEntire. Potential Mozart members interested in music may email the Mozart Club to obtain further information.