The 2010 Buddy Carle Memorial Music Scholarship has been awarded! The winner is MARK VIAVATTINE, a sax player and sophomore at the Eastman School of Music. Mark is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance and music education at Eastman.
The scholarship award is in memory of Buddy Carle who played in the Eastman School of Music “New Horizons” band and participated in Eastman’s Jazz Fantasy Camp. Like Buddy Carle, a sax player and founder of the “Buddy Carle Quartet” which played in the Rochester area in the 1950s, Mark founded the “Mark Viavattine Quartet”, which plays every Friday night at a restaurant in Rochester called Tavern 58 at Gibbs. He also plays in a wedding band called Twilight Musical Entertainment. A dedicated jazz musician, Mark has performed in the Rochester International Jazz festival. He plans to continue his studies with a Master of Music and a Doctoral degree in Jazz studies.
The competition was tough! Students of all class years applied from Roberts Wesleyan College, Nazareth College and the Eastman School of Music. The applicants included vocalists, drummers, pianists and saxophone players, with the majority of the applicants playing more than one instrument.
Each applicant was talented and dedicated to pursuing a career in music. Choosing a winner was a very difficult decision. Mark epitomizes Buddy Carle and his love of and joy through music. We are sure Mark will make a fine ambassador to the Buddy Carle Memorial Music Scholarship.
Thank you to all the students who applied and thank you to all who support the Buddy Carle Memorial Music Scholarship.