Scholarship from the Texas Music Educators Association
With so many pathways, how do you choose the right one after high school?听
For Martin High School senior Matthew Stringer, it came easy. 听
鈥I realized I wanted to become a choir director听when my choir was performing with a local choir called the ,鈥 said Stringer. 听
Inspired by the director of the chorale, words made all the difference. 听
鈥淗earing him talk about his love for teaching and how he impacted the lives of his students made it click in my brain that I wanted to do that too,鈥 Stringer said.听
As the recipient of the 2024-2025 听Past Presidents Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship, he鈥檒l be guiding students through their own musical journeys in no time. 听
Selected from an impressive group of 255 high school candidates from across Texas, his commitment and passion for music education were听evident, but his leadership is what set him apart. 听
鈥淢atthew is an intelligent, kind and natural leader,鈥 said Martin director of orchestras Jamie Ovalle. 鈥淗is peers look up to him because he leads them with confidence and grace.鈥听
It shows through his commitment to planning, coordinating and executing all the orchestra’s social events as president of the program and tenor section leader.听
鈥淭his听scholarship听solidifies that this is what听Matthew听is meant to do – and he is going to be a phenomenal choir director one day,鈥 Ovalle said. 听
With $2,500 per year for up to five years, the scholarship will help Stringer major in a music degree program and earn a Texas teacher certification.听
鈥淚 feel very honored to have received听this TMEA scholarship and especially honored to be the first one from 极速六合彩,鈥 Stringer said. 听
And he couldn鈥檛 have done it without the support of his teachers who encouraged his musical success along the way. 听
鈥淢y directors show obvious passions for music, whether that be choir or orchestra; they want us to be the best and that makes me want to be the best I can be,鈥 said Stringer. 听
After submitting an application and receiving several letters of recommendation from his teachers, he is one step closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming a choir director. 听
鈥淚 am so excited and proud that Matthew is so passionate about wanting to be a teacher,鈥澨齭aid Martin choir director Kay Owens.听鈥淗e鈥檚 known that he wanted to be a听music educator for nearly his entire high school career. Receiving this scholarship will help him become the fantastic choir director he wants to be one day.鈥听
Stringer has been accepted to the University of Texas at Arlington, Baylor University and Oklahoma City University. 听
鈥淚’m looking forward to the connections I can make with my students and helping them听find their own passion for music,鈥 Stringer said. 听
Until then, he鈥檒l be busy deciding where he wants to begin听his music career with the well-deserved scholarship.听
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