Performing Arts Scholarships  Awarded

St. Charles, IL, May 3, 2018 – The Dennis Taylor Scholarship Foundation for the Performing Arts proudly announces the recipients of its scholarship grants for the 2018-19 school year. These initial scholarships are for the benefit of post-secondary students residing in the western suburbs of Chicago who have declared a major in the performing arts and demonstrated a passion for performance.  Awards are being given to Elyse Chapski of Geneva, Andrew Hunter and Natalie Sweeney of Batavia, Payton Kaye of Schaumburg, and Daniel Keller of Aurora.

Chapski is a student at St. Francis High School where she has sung in various choirs and ensembles and appeared in musical theatre productions. She has been accepted at Berklee College of Music where she will study Voice Performance.

Hunter attends Batavia High School where he plays trumpet in its jazz combo and  various bands. He was selected as Head Drum Major in the Marching Band during his senior year. Hunter wishes to work as a band director and has been accepted at the University of Illinois where he will major in Music Education.

Sweeney is graduating from Batavia High School where she has appeared in several plays and  musical theatre productions. She takes private voice lessons at Vero Voce and achieved semi-finalist standing in the classical category in a regional NATS competition. Sweeney plans to declare a double major in Music and Civil Engineering at Michigan State University.

Kaye is a senior at Conant High School where he sings and plays trombone in various bands and ensembles. He also appeared in musical theatre productions at school and with Schaumburg On Stage. He will study Sound Recording Technology and Jazz Trombone at DePaul University.

Keller is a student at West Aurora High School where he has appeared in musical theatre productions. He studied trumpet, piano and voice and was twice named Outstanding Soloist at the Purdue University Jazz Festival. He will pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and Drama at Indiana University Bloomington.

Dennis Taylor served as a dancer, choreographer, costumer, makeup artist, set dresser and wig designer at dozens of suburban theaters for more than 50 years. Additional contributions to the Scholarship Foundation in his memory can be made at our website.

At a later date the Scholarship Foundation will also be awarding grants to students not yet enrolled in post-secondary education. Candidates can request an application form through the website or via e-mail to [email protected] or by calling +1 630-584-0139.