Stephanie Meyer is the Presser Scholar

11/18/2010 4:14 PM

By: Melissa McGuire

The Presser Foundation is one of the few organizations in the United States dedicated exclusively to music and music education.

Stephanie Meyer, a senior music performance major, was recently named the Presser Scholar for the Department of Music. According to Dr. Kerry Walters, Meyer’s voice instructor, the Presser Scholar is selected primarily upon GPA, talent, work ethic, and contributions to the music department.

Meyer says that every dedicated musician deserves to be recognized, and the Presser Foundation makes this possible for music students nationwide.

According to Meyer, the Presser Scholar is awarded a substantial scholarship, a certificate of recognition, has his or her photo displayed in Constance Hall for a year, and has his or her name added to a plaque with previous Presser Scholar recipients in Dingledine Music Center.

The Presser Scholar is awarded by faculty, an honor which gives Meyer a boost of confidence.

“I feel very blessed to have been presented with this great honor,” Meyer said. “The most rewarding part for me is the pat on the back from the Bradley faculty. As a musician, I often battle with the thought that ‘there is someone better,’ and knowing that my professors have faith in my ability and support my efforts means a great deal.”

The Presser Scholar award is designed to help students pursue a career in music. After graduation, Meyer plans to take a year off to gain job experience and pay off student loans. She will continue to teach private voice and piano lessons. In the future, Meyer plans to apply to graduate programs in the area of music therapy, a vocation she has hoped to pursue since high school.

Meyer’s passion and dedication is exemplified through this award and can be heard through her music 

“I think any musician will agree that no success in music comes without a great deal of time and hard work,” Meyer said. “Over the years as a singing musician, I realized that, for me, it was not about striving to be the best, but rather, about making the best of what gifts I had been given. To be named the Presser Scholar is both a wonderful blessing and an incredibly humbling experience.”