Kobey
Shwayder
Submitted:
April 8, 2013
Rejected
: $
0
Contact Information:
Kobey
Shwayder
4921 Pine St
Philadelphia
PA
19143
USA
2482298227
Reference 1:
Sarah Mead
Reference 2:
Josh Lee
Summary of Submitted Materials:
CDSS camp registration deposit receipt 150 plus 25 membership
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
I received word from Kobey that he was awarded an EMA scholarship to attend this workshop, so he is withdrawing his request for funds!
Ooops, it's not an EMA scholarship--it's something from Pinewoods itself; the point still stands, he doesn't need a GiA....
Project Description:
I would like to take part in the Viol Intensive course at Pinewoods this summer, through CDSS httpwww.cdss.orgviol.html. I am a graduate student on a grad student budget, so the registration fee of 940 dollars for the week is a bit steep. I would be happy for any assistance with the cost.
Request Amount:
$
940
Total Project Cost:
$
Budget and Additional Funding:
Qualifications:
I have been playing viol as an amateur in ensembles for 13 years. I played in the student and staff early music ensembles at Interlochen Arts Camp summers from 2001-2004 under Mark Cudek and Ann Marie Morgan. I played in a few small ensembles at Harvard from 2003-2007, including the viol consort under Emily Walhout. I played with the Brandeis Early Music Ensemble and viol consort under Sarah Mead from 2008-9. Since 2009 I have been unable to play regularly, but I have been attending the Young Players Weekends, last summers Conclave, and the Philadelphia VdGS chapter meetings. Since I will be unable to attend Conclave this summer, I am hoping for a focused viol-playing week with some serious work on ensemble skills at the Viol Intensive course at Pinewoods. I am not attaching any recording, since I do not have any recent solo recordings, but Id be happy to send along ensemble tracks from the Brandeis Viol Consort.
Letter of Reference 1:
Reference from SARAH MEAD:
HI, Marie -
I'm writing to you in support of a Grant-in-Aid for Kobey Shwayder, who is looking for financial help to attend his first summer workshop in viol. He is hoping to take part in the Viol Intensive at Pinewoods this summer, and I think he's an excellent candidate for it.
Kobey is a graduate student in Linguistics in Philadlphia whom I first encountered when he was doing his MA at Brandeis. He showed up in the fall for my Early Music Ensemble saying he wanted to play viol with us and that he had his own instrument. When he opened the case, I discovered that his "own" instrument was a 17th-century bass that had been sitting for years in his grandmother's attic. Having discovered viol at Interlochen as a teenager, and with the help of his grandmother's instrument, he had played through college and was looking for opportunities to keep playing at Brandeis. During his two years with my EME he played both continuo and consorts, and proved himself to be an able and sensitive player with no pretensions and an excellent sense of ensemble.
I encouraged him to take part in YPW, and was very glad that he took advantage of the proximity of their recent weekend to Philadlphia. I think the weekend did exactly what we hope for it, and lit a fire under him to find more ways to continue to make music. Lisa and I have both encouraged him to come to the Viol Intensive at Pinewoods (since he really can't afford to travel to the west coast for Conclave) and he has finally reached the point in his PhD program when he can allow himself to make music in a serious way. He is pursuing all the scholarship possibilities that Pinewoods offers, but knows that he cannot attend unless he is able to get near full financial support.
Kobey is just the kind of young, skilled amateur whom we hope to see become a core part of the VdGSA in the next decade or so. I wholeheartedly support his appeal for a GIA, and feel that any commitment we make to him will be returned in a commitment to the viol and the Society.
Sarah
Letter of Reference 2:
Reference from JOSH LEE:
To the members of the Grant In Aid Selection Committee,
Kobey Shwayder approached me and asked if I would mind writing a recommendation on his behalf for a Grant In Aid to help him attend the Pinewoods Viol Intensive this summer. Honestly I cannot think of someone more deserving of the Society's help, and I would like to enthusiastically urge the committee to award Kobey the requested grant.
Kobey and I met several years ago during the first VdGSA Young Players' Weekend. Kobey quickly demonstrated that he was a very competent musician, keeping pace with players in performance programs. But it wasn't just his acumen with the viol that impressed me and has continued to impress me. Year after year Kobey steps up and helps out when others wilt away from the call for help and assistance that we depend upon to make Young Players' Weekend a reality. Whether that is offering folks rides, lending an instrument, contributing music to our communal consort library, or just being an EXCELLENT roll model for young players new to the culture of the VdGSA, Kobey consistently demonstrated he's dedicated to sharing his love for the viol with those around him. Kobey is the sort of person and player we need to actively support as I strongly suspect he will be amongst our leadership in the future.
If you have any further questions for me concerning Kobey please feel free to contact me.
Josh Lee