PPM Awards Two Student Scholarships in 2019

PORTSMOUTH PRO MUSICA   SCHOLARSHIP $500.00

The Board of Directors of Portsmouth Pro Musica (PPM), a seacoast community chorus, has awarded scholarships of $500 each to help two area students advance in their musical studies. The awards were announced and presented during PPM’s recent end-of-season business meeting in May.  The recipients are Lydia Barnes of Stratham and Elizabeth Westbrook of Portsmouth.

Lydia Barnes

Lydia Barnes is graduating from Exeter High School and will begin a 4-year program at Berklee College of Music in the fall, majoring in songwriting. Her aspiration is to become a professional songwriter, as well as a recording and

performing artist. Lydia has used her musical talents at school, but also  for both community service and volunteer work, performing at senior centers and serving as a pianist for children’s musicals and orchestras. She is the recipient of many awards, among them, a 2018 Top Ten Finalist in “New England Sings” and a 2019 New Hampshire Scholar with Emphasis on the Arts. Her varied hobbies and interests include classical, jazz, and contemporary piano; ukulele; jazz and contemporary voice; hiking; and poetry.

 

Elizabeth Westbrook

A member of the National Honor Society, Elizabeth Westbrook is graduating from Portsmouth High School and will be attending Bennington College, majoring in Dance/Society, Culture and Thought. Her goal is to bring about social change through her love and performance of dance. Involved in dance since age 3 and piano since age 6, Elizabeth has continued to hone her musical skills through dance classes, school choir, and local and school theatre. She has taught herself guitar over the last 4 years, and is also skilled in photography, both of which, along with dance and piano, she plans to continue in college. In addition, Elizabeth has been involved in community service at Seacoast Repertory Theatre, painting sets and choreographing the children’s productions. Her other hobbies and interests are reading, writing, travel, and fashion.

Portsmouth Pro Musica is extremely proud of its 2019 recipients and wishes them continued success in their college years and beyond. PPM remains dedicated to providing continued scholarship support for high school seniors pursuing music and the arts as part of their future education.