Young guitarists win Berkman scholarships

Photo by Kathy Browning Shianne Wright (right) receives a check for $180 from Tony Peters on Dec. 5. Wright won a Howard Berkman scholarship.When well-known musician Howard Berkman suddenly died in Oct. 2011, his family, friends and the Mountain Harvest Festival established a scholarship fund to assist budding musicians who need instruments. They will consider any reasonable request.

A $1,000 scholarship will be given to someone wanting to pursue a musical career.

Tony Peters presented the scholarship funds to the two recipients for 2012, James Rose and Shianne Wright. Both received $180 for new guitars.

Wright is a tenth grader at Hotchkiss High School. "It's always been a dream of mine," Wright said about learning to play the guitar. Her mother is a singer.

She learned of the scholarship from her choir teacher, Jeannette Carey.

"Honestly I was so surprised," Wright said about winning the scholarship.

Photo by Kathy Browning Tony Peters (left) presented James Rose with a new guitar. Rose was one of the 2012 recipients of a Howard Berkman music scholarship.James Rose is an eighth grader with the Vision Home and Community Program. Rose purchased a new guitar with his funds. Tony Peters is his guitar teacher.

When Rose received his scholarship, he said, "I appreciate it a lot."

Howard Berkman was a much-loved singer, songwriter and guitarist who lived in Paonia.

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