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Hall named Dr. James F. Dunphy Memorial Scholar

Photo Provided Eli Hall, 2019 Dr. James F. Dunphy Memorial Scholar.

CHARLESTON — Eli Hall has been named the 2019 Dr. James F. Dunphy Memorial Scholar from a field of young musicians from Wood and surrounding counties.

Hall, junior from Roane County High School, successfully auditioned and interviewed with four other finalists for the scholarship that offers private music lessons with a West Virginia Symphony Orchestra musician, the opportunity to attend WVSO rehearsals and personal interaction with Music Director Lawrence Loh.

Hall was chosen as first chair bassoon in the 2019 West Virginia All State Band and has been a member of the Virginia Tech Honor Band and a three-time selection to the WVU Honor Band. Hall plays the bassoon in the West Virginia Youth Symphony.

The selection committee, which interviewed the finalists and listened to their auditions on May 3 at the Smoot Theatre in Parkersburg, included members of the Dunphy family and Music Director Lawrence Loh.

The finalists were Zoe Daugherty, a freshman violinist at Williamstown High School; Christian Deem, tuba player and freshman at Parkersburg High School; Brayden Whited, an eighth-grade saxophone player from Pleasants County Middle School, and Savannah Vance, trumpeter and sophomore at Ravenswood High School.

The Dr. James F. Dunphy Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the late James Dunphy (1930-2011), a lifelong devotee of and advocate for classical music who lived in Parkersburg for nearly 40 years.

During the first year of the scholarship, winner Ethan Hupp of Ravenswood High School gained a world of knowledge and experience.

“The Dunphy Scholarship helped my musical journey tremendously. It provided me with not only wonderful experiences of being around the WVSO and getting a feel for how the orchestral environment works, but also provided me with a consistent teacher to help develop my abilities, help mentor me through auditions, and help understand what to expect going forward in my musical career,” Hupp said.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra presents classical, pops, family and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Now entering its 80th season, the WVSO provides affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program, the organization said.

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