Submitted by Amy Ferguson Institute
Doris Bradshaw was a lifelong resident of Nelson and a lifelong lover of music, thanks to her studies with Dr. Amy Ferguson. Doris Bradshaw was a soprano and a consistent winner in the West Kootenay Music Festival. She also enjoyed a long career as a popular journalist with the Nelson Daily News and was instrumental in setting up the Daily News Archives.
When she passed away in 2015, her family created the Doris Bradshaw Bursary, an annual bursary of $500 to be shared by two young West Kootenay musicians to further their musical studies while attending elementary, junior or senior high school.
The recipients of the 2020 Doris Bradshaw Bursary have been chosen. They are Aaron Pasacreta and Lillian Euringer. Aaron is a Grade 10 student at L.V. Rogers Secondary School. He has been playing piano with the jazz band since Grade 7 and has studied with various local music teachers. He plans to take vocal lessons in the coming months. Lillian is a Grade 3-4 student at Redfish/homeschool. She is currently studying singing and performance with teacher Rachel DeShon.
The goal of the Amy Ferguson Institute is to further vocal arts (both choral and solo) in the West Kootenay region. Since its inception in 2000, the institute in conjunction with Nelson Community Opera mounted productions of opera and musical theatre, including two commissioned works, KHAOS and Echoes of the Mountains.
To accomplish its goal of furthering the vocal arts, the Amy Ferguson Institute believes that increasing educational opportunities for area youth is essential. The Doris Bradshaw Bursary helps meet this goal.
“Bursaries like this are a generous contribution to our community. The Amy Ferguson Institute is grateful to be part of the continuing growth of music,” said president Dianna Ducs.
To find out more about this bursary or to download the application, visit www.amyfergusoninstitute.ca/doris-bradshaw-bursary.
To donate to the Amy Ferguson Institute, email us at info@amyfergusoninstitute.ca, or visit www.canadahelps.org. You’ll receive an official receipt for your contribution.
