Music Scholarships

• Complete audition for the Department of Music by submitting a link to video(s) of your performances of three contrasting works. (YouTube or other online video hosting service) 
• Submit two letters of recommendation addressing your musical and academic abilities. 
• Write a statement that expresses why you feel you would be a good candidate for this scholarship program. 
• Participate in a zoom interview with the Scholarship Committee.  

For more information, please contact the chair of the Music Department, Dr. Jeremy Justeson at justeson@kutztown.edu.

International students may direct their questions to: international@kutztown.edu.

KU President’s International Piano and Strings Scholarship Ensemble has currently an opening for a viola, starting in Fall of 2025. 

The scholarship covers tuition and housing for all four years. Please note that recipiens are responsible for administrative fees, meals, health insurance, books, and personal expenses. More information about funding requirements can be found at: www.kutztown.edu/studentvisa 

The current and past members of the President’s International Piano and Strings Ensemble are:  

• Douglas Wei, violin, Taiwan/US
• Jennifer Rubio, violin, Dominican Republic 
• Rashawn Pressley, viola, US 
• Georgia Lazaridou, piano, Greece 
• Nicolás Gomez Amín, violin, Chile 
• Alejándro Ortega, violin, Dominican Republic 
• Jean Kiklikian, piano, Venezuela 
• Christoforos Petridis, violin, Greece
• Gabriel Naranjo, piano, Dominican Republic
• Andrés Zuluaga, piano, Dominican Republic 

Valentina vega bueno

Jade Hasbún

Jade is a Dominican violinist and a Music Performance major at Kutztown University, where she is a recipient of the Presidential Strings and Piano Scholarship and a student of violinist Kurt Nikkanen.

She began studying violin at the age of five at the Escuela Elemental de Música Elisa Mena and later continued at the Cuatro Cuerdas Academy and the National Conservatory of Music in the Dominican Republic under Anarys Iznaga, violinist of the National Symphony Orchestra.

Jade has served as Concertmaster of the Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra at the Conservatory and has performed as a soloist in venues such as the Dominican Republic's National Theatre, Sala Manuel Rueda, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. She was a finalist in the 2024 Young Musician of the Caribbean Award in the Junior division.

She is also a Fellow of the Fundación por la Música, where she has studied with distinguished professors including Paul and Tim Kantor and Shannon Thomas.

Alejandro Ortega

Alejandro was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At 7 years old, began his violin studies with Professor Claudia Reyes. He later entered to the National Conservatory of Music of the Dominican Republic, in the studio of professor Mercedes Ariza.

In 2008 Alejandro won the 1st Prize in the Cibao Strings Competition in the Junior Category. In 2010 he won the 1st Prize in the Cibao Strings Competition in the Intermediate Category.

Between 2012 to 2013 Alejandro was part of the "Gabriel del Orbe" Violin Program in Santo Domingo, studying with acclaimed violin pedagogue Paul Kantor. He has participated in Master Classes, Workshops and Festivals internationally, working with distinguished violinists including Philippe Quint and Timothy Schwarz.

Alejandro graduated with his BA in Music Performance from Kutztown University, where he studied with Kurt Nikkanen and was the recipient of the President’s International Piano and Strings Scholarship.

Nicolás Gómez Amín

Nicolás was born in April 1998 in Santiago, Chile. He first began playing the violin at the age of 7 under the guidance of Professor Nadia Salinas. Nicolás has also studied under professors Ruben Sierra, Elena Batrakova, and Oriana Silva. Nicolás has been active over the years, and he has performed in some of the most important concert halls in Chile.

Rashawn Pressley

Rashawn is a native of South Carolina, and started playing viola at age 10 and became dedicated to his studies at the start of high school. Born into a military family, he has had the opportunity to participate in numerous high school community and regional state orchestras around the country.  

Now studied Music Education and Viola Performance at Kutztown University; he was engaged in numerous ensembles such as the University Orchestra, Kutztown Chamber Players, and the multiple smaller chamber ensembles at the University. He studied viola under the tutelage of Professor Michael Gamon and chamber music with renowned violinist Kurt Nikkanen and pianist Maria Asteriadou.

Alejandro José Bolívar Hernández

Alejandro is a Venezuelan cellist whose career spans Latin America and the United States. His musical journey began at the age of 10 within Venezuela's renowned El Sistema, where he trained in the Children’s and Youth Orchestra. He continued his artistic development at the Divina Pastora Nucleus and the Latin American Cello Academy under Professor Samuel Pérez. Alejandro pursued studies at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory before relocating to the Dominican Republic, where he graduated in 2024 from the National Conservatory of Music under the mentorship of Professor Slobodan Veljkovic.

While completing his formal studies, Alejandro immersed himself in the professional music scene of the Dominican Republic. He performed in diverse settings, including musical theater productions, ballet, opera, and various chamber music ensembles. He has served as principal cellist of the Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra, with which he has performed as a soloist.

He has also been a longtime scholarship recipient of Fundación por la Música, where he studied cello with Professor Felix Umansky and chamber music with distinguished violinists Timothy and Paul Kantor.

Alejandro has participated in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed cellists, including Pablo Ferrández, Alisa Weilerstein, and Horacio Contreras. He has also taken part in top training programs, including the Youth Orchestra of the Americas' OAcademy and workshops with Fundación Sinfonía. He has participated in the KU Music Festival and was invited to Kutztown University for masterclasses with Wolfram Koessel and Dr. Maria Asteriadou. Currently, Alejandro is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance at Kutztown University under the guidance of Dr. Sam Ou.

Gabriel Naranjo

Gabriel was born in the city of Santo Domingo. He is a piano student under the guidance of the renowned Steinway Artist, Dr. Maria Asteriadou. His journey within the world of music began at an early age, starting at the age of three with private music theory classes, which laid the foundation for his artistic growth. Subsequently, in 2016 he dedicated four years to the formal study of the guitar, an experience that preceded his final transition to the piano in 2020.

From 2020 to 2022, Gabriel received piano instruction from Maestro Baron Luis Rodriguez at the Estudio Dina de Educación Musical, an institution where he completed the Intermediate Piano program, achieving a final grade of 99 out of 100. Later, between 2022 and 2024, he continued his academic development at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música de Santo Domingo, where he was a student of Professor Lillian Brugal.

Throughout his journey, Gabriel has obtained important recognitions in piano competitions, achieving first place in the ProPiano 2021 competition in the Intermediate Category, as well as first place in ProPiano 2022 in the Superior Category. His stage experience includes performances as a soloist in recitals, participation in chamber music ensembles and collaborations as a special guest in different events. In addition to his success in competitions, Gabriel has received scholarships that have allowed him to continue his piano studies abroad.

Andrés Zuluaga

Georgia Lazaridou

Georgia was born in Greece in a musical family.  Her first formal piano education started at the age of six.  She gave her debut solo recital at the age of eleven at the Athens Museum Concert Hall.  Georgia has performed extensively as a soloist with orchestra, recitalist, and chamber musician. She has been praised for “showing a mastery of technical difficulties and soulful expression” (Reading Eagle.) Georgia has participated in summer festivals, including Chetham’s International Piano Festival, Kutztown University Summer Music Festival and FIMCE Festival Internacional de Música de Cámara del Elqui in Chile.  The winner of many competitions and awards, Georgia received her BA in Music Performance degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where she was a student of Dr. Maria Asteriadou and the recipient of the President’s International Piano and Strings scholarship.

Following her undergraduate studies, she earned her Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she is also currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree under the guidance of Dr. Joanne Polk.

Georgia has also studied with Ekaterina Lebedeva, Murray McLachlan, Christos Noulis, and Domna Evnouhidou.

Jean Pierre Agustin Kiklikian Herrera

Jean Pierre was born in Maturin, Venezuela. He started to play the piano at the age of four, studying first with Yumarina Guerra, and subsequently with Natalie Rojas and Carmen Marco at the Mozarteum Conservatory in Caracas. At eight years of age, Jean entered the “Escuela Experimental de Música Manuel Alberto López” (EEMMAL), where he studied under the guidance of professor Olga López until the age of 17. From 2015 to 2016 he was an exchange student in the Czech Republic with the AFS organization and travelled throughout Europe. In August 2017 he began his studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo with Jasmina Gavrilovich. In 2019 he participated in classes with Professor Mario Alarcón in Chile. Currently, he is a student of Dr. Maria Asteriadou at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he is a recipient of the President’s International Piano and Strings Scholarship.

Mamie Afflerbach Music Scholarships are awarded for musical achievement, academic standing, and financial need. The scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen, and is renewable each year.

Scholarship requirements:

• Minimum "B" high school average
• One letter of recommendation
• An in-person audition
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Upon acceptance, students must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA
• Enroll in applied music courses
• Participate in large ensembles such as concert band, wind ensemble, choir, marching unit, orchestra or jazz ensemble
• Participate in small ensembles such as brass, percussion, woodwind, vocal, and string ensemble 

This scholarship was established by Department of Music faculty members to provide scholarship assistance for students enrolled as a full-time music major, participates in Department of Music activities, studies privately with a Department of Music faculty member, and has earned a minimum 2.5 GPA.

This scholarship was established in 2011 by Martha L. Hafer to provide scholarship assistance for students in the Jazz Studies Program. Scholarship recipients must be registered for a jazz ensemble, demonstrate successful academic progress, and be nominated by the Director of Jazz Studies as scholarship recipients.

The Dorothy S. Barbera String Scholarship was established by Aceste J. Barbera, professor emeritus of music, in loving memory of his wife, to provide scholarship assistance to accomplished string instrumentalist students. Preference is given to students studying violin.

This scholarship was created in 1994 in remembrance of Reid F. Lessig, instructor, drill designer, and band front coordinator of the KU Band program from 1972-1982. Reid also founded the Graduate Organization of Bands, which has continued to support the band programs at Kutztown University for decades. 

The scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit the technical ability and leadership skills through involvement in the KU band programs. This one-time scholarship is awarded to students who qualify in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the KU Graduate Organization of Bands.

Scholarship applicants must be in their first academic year at Kutztown University, and they may be enrolled in any major. An application form can be downloaded and it is also available through the Department of Music Office. 

Participation in at least one of the following ensembles is required: 

• Concert Band
• Wind Ensemble
• Marching Unit
• Jazz Ensemble 

Established in memory of Earl "Jim" Mayberry, a dedicated professor of music (1967-1984) by family and friends, to recognize exemplary commitment and accomplishment by a student majoring in music or music education.

The recipient will be majoring in music or music education, and have completed at least 12 but not more than 20 credits. Preference will be given to a student majoring in trombone.

This scholarship has been made possible through the generosity of the Schatkowski family, who has created an endowed scholarship in recognition of Dr. Schatkowski's years of service and leadership to Kutztown University as a music faculty member. Selection is based on music performance.

The Esther F. Smith Piano Scholarship was established by Samuel P. Smith '43 (former President of the Kutztown University Foundation) in memory of his mother, Esther F. Smith '13, to provide an annual scholarship to a worthy student majoring in music. Preference is given to students studying piano. 

The Wertime Music Fund was established in 1988 by Selma Wertime Thomson, Professor Emeritus of Music, in honor of her parents. Rudolf Wertime was a concert pianist and chair of the Music Department at Wilson College. Proceeds from the fund are to be used for music scholarships to be given to students who demonstrate exceptional aptitude and potential for growth in musicianship. The Music Department is grateful to Professor Thomson for the establishment of the fund.

Students in any major at the university may be considered for the Rudolf & Flora Wertime Music Scholarship. Candidates may be requested to interview or audition for the selection committee. Scholarships may be renewed based on annual reviews of the recipient's performance.