Jonathan Norris Winner of $1,000
2012 Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship

2010 !st Place Scholarship Winner, Rachel Laven

Winner of the first place $1,000 Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship for 2012 was Jonathan Norris, a graduate of Navarro High School in Seguin who began playing guitar in his church worship band at the age of 15. He is starting college at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) this fall, pursuing a bachelor's degree in music with emphasis on the music industry. Jonathan plans to join the UIW Jazz Band, to continue his endeavors with his Christian metal band Arisen, in which he plays guitar, and to build a career in the music industry in producing and engineering. Jonathan learned of the TMC scholarship through UIW.

Erik Anderson Winner of $500
2012 Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship

Winner of the second place $500 Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship was Erik Anderson of San Antonio, who was the very first recipient of this scholarship back in 2005. Erik began playing trombone in his 6th grade middle school band, continuing on through his years at Alamo Heights High School where he was named to the 4A All-State Band and played with the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) Philharmonic. He is now majoring in music at the University of North Texas. Erik’s main career goal is to play trombone in a symphony orchestra or to become a trombone professor, playing chamber music and involving himself in other activities to revitalize public interest in classical music.

Victoria Zaleski Wins 1st Place
2011 Jack Skiles Scholarship

Victoria Zaleski, who is presently home-schooled, was born in San Antonio to a Texas mother and French father. At age three she moved to France, where she attended French schools before moving back to Texas at age 12. She studied piano in France, but discovered her singing abilities with the help of a musical theatre summer camp at Performing Arts San Antonio (PASA). She began studying the guitar under Bobby Flores at Bulverde Academy of Music and soon had live performances at such places as the King William Fair, Bulverde Jamboree and Blanco Lavender Festival, as well as her musical recitals.

She began writing songs at age 13 and performing them at local open mics. Gordon Raphael (former producer of Regina Spector and the Strokes) caught her performance at GIG on the Strip one night and offered to record her first 7 songs on an EP. At age 14, Victoria was recording her first CD at Pedernales Studio in Spicewood, which will be released next week. Victoria enjoys immensely her time in the studio in addition to her live performances.

During her application process for TMC’s Jack Skiles Scholarship, Victoria was informed by her grandmother that her great-grandfather, Charlie Gregg, performed here in San Antonio with Jack Skiles. So the honor of this scholarship runs deep and she is very grateful for the contribution to her musical endeavors and proud to call herself a member of the TMC.

Steven S. Sellers wins
2nd Place Scholarship

Steven S. Sellers was born July 26,1993, in Beverly Hills, Ca. and got his first real guitar lesson from his dad while celebrating his 12th birthday in Las Vegas. Within a few months, he had learned enough to join his dad onstage and the two have been active on the local music scene, performing as Los Dos Estebans.

Steven kept learning on his own until August 2008,when he passed his audition to attend the North East School of the Arts and went on to distinguish himself by learning cello and writing music for NESA productions and cinema projects. A songwriter and vocalist, he also plays djembe drum. He graduated from NESA/Lee High School with honors in June 2011.

He plans to study music composition at the University of North Texas beginning this August. This is Steve’s second time as a TMC scholarship winner, having previously won the 2nd place Jack Skiles Scholarship in 2009. He was also winner this spring of a Sam Baird Scholarship from the San Antonio Blues Society. A TMC member, Steven has assisted with both TMC’s MySpace and Facebook.

Rachel Laven wins 1st Place
2010 Jack Skiles Scholarship

TMC President Steven O. Sellers; previous year’s 2nd place scholarship winner, Steven S. Sellers; 2010 1st place scholarship winner, Rachel Laven; and check presenter Lee Hurtado.

Rachel Laven is the first TMC member to win the first place, $500 TMC Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship! (TMC membership is not necessary to apply for our scholarships, as the list of past scholarship winners on the TMC website bears witness.) Her scholarship award was announced at the Meet & Greet by last year’s winner of the second place scholarship, Steven S. Sellers, also a fellow TMC member and NESA student.

Rachel, her parents (Andreas & Jana) and brother (Niko) have been TMC members for a number of years and their band, The Lavens, was voted 2009 TMC Artist of the Year last year by the TMC membership. To find out more about Rachel and her talented family, visit www.thelavens.com. In addition to the scholarship, Rachel received a year’s free membership in TMC!

Rachel Laven Bio:

I was born here in San Antonio, Texas. I started singing when I was 3 years. I sang with my parent’s band, the Easy Street Band. At age 5 I started taking piano lessons. By the time I was 5, I’d decided I wanted to be ROCKSTAR. I performed with my cousins every chance I got, singing our favorite pop tunes of the late nineties. I also performed at school functions. I began playing guitar at the late age of 10 and wrote a few songs with topics ranging from war to Jesse James to pirates and fairies. I wrote about what I saw on TV and movies at that time.

I started playing with an organization known as GirlsNGuitars, with members such as Ashlee Rose, Katherine Dawn and Susan Gibson. With their influence I wrote many more songs. The organization shut down just after I turned 12, but I kept playing at The Cove with my brother and parents. My songwriting topics started to mature after I was introduced to Susan Gibson’s, Slaid Cleaves’ and Terri Hendrix’s music. I learned a lot about songwriting from them.

In 2005, I recorded my first set of 2 CDs, “Sibling Rivalry” and “Sibling Rivalry Rematch,” live at The Cove with my family and some of San Antonio’s top musicians like Butch Morgan, Glenn Allan and Kim Mackenzie, Gil Polanco, Luckey McClain and Will Owen-Gage. The CD was released in 2006 and as of now we have sold out on both of those CDs.

When I was 13, I auditioned at The North East School of the Arts (NESA) and was accepted. I spent all four years of high school there and performed in a dozen or so shows. In 2007 I recorded my 3rd CD with my family, “Live At The Cove,” though this time it was all of us (also sold out). I’m currently working hard as a musician producing my 4th CD with the family, our first studio record. I’ve graduated from the North East School of the Arts and plan to attend Trinity University in the fall to continue my music, theatre and liberal arts education.

Ruben Jimenez Jr. wins
2nd Place Scholarship

TMC President Steven O. Sellers and 2010 2nd place scholarship winner, Ruben Jimenez, Jr.

Ruben Jimenez Jr., recipient of the 2nd place $250 Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship (plus a complimentary one-year membership in TMC), is a sophomore at San Antonio College (SAC) where he is a voice major, taking private lessons under the instruction of Madeline Elizondo and Cynthia Sanchez. He previously attended Odessa College from 2004-2007, where he received lessons from David Corman. At SAC, along with voice, he is studying music theory and classical guitar. He has been a member of both colleges’ respective choirs, being featured in solo performances, and recently performed at the Summit Christian Center before an audience of over 1,500.

Before receiving a classical education, he played guitar, bass and sang with rock bands and, along with his bandmates, composed original music and gigged regularly. He has also recorded professionally at 5th Street Studios and the Media Institute of Austin and is currently employed as an audio engineer at Trinity University’s Laurie Auditorium.

Raul (Mark) Gonzaba wins 3rd Place

Raul (Mark) Gonzaba, as 3rd place winner, received a complimentary one-year membership in TMC. He is a sophomore music education major at San Antonio College (SAC), who is working on completing his degree and plans to go into teaching music at the high school and drum corps level. In addition, he has earned a certificate in audio engineering and runs live and studio sound for Deemand Entertainment, which has a home studio where local bands and individuals are recorded.

Marcus Tedesco wins TMC 2009
Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship

Scholarship Chair Nikki Young presents Marcus Tedesco with the $500 TMC Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship for 2009 during the annual TMC Meet & Greet, held at Taco Garage on Sunday, June 28.

MARCUS TEDESCO – First Place ($500 + TMC year’s membership)

Marcus Tedesco was assistant conductor and principal bassist in the Brandeis High School Orchestra this past year, winning numerous awards as a bassist as well as a bass vocalist in the choir there. He previously attended O’Connor High School in San Antonio and Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas.

His honors include being named to the All-State Texas Orchestra and Assistant Principal Bassist in the Texas Region XI Orchestra. In 2009 he received awards as Brandeis High School’s Outstanding Orchestra Student, Outstanding Vocal Bass and Strongest Leader/Chorus. And these are just a few of his many awards as a musician, vocalist, scholar and poet!

Marcus is also a bassist in the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) and the Coker Youth Orchestra at Coker United Methodist Church and has participated in numerous music festivals and camps, as well high school musical theatre.

He has served as a State Capital of Texas Senate Page and done volunteer work at the Music Learning Center sponsored by YOSA and in the Community Outreach Project After School Program, helping underprivileged children learn to play stringed instruments.

Marcus listed as his mentor Steve Zeserman, who will also receive a free year’s membership in TMC.

STEVE SELLERS JR. – Second Place ($250 + TMC year’s membership)

Steve Sellers Jr., a member of TMC, was born in California and noted in his essay that he has been surrounded by music from birth, with both his parents being musicians. (His Dad is KONO DJ Steven O. Sellers – also a TMC member.)

Steve’s early fascination was with African drumming, which he studied and participated in from ages 8 – 11. At 12, he took up guitar and has been playing for some time as part of the Sellers & Son or Dos Estebans duo.

A student at North East School of the Arts (NESA), he has been developing his musical interests there in classical guitar, banjo, cello and music theory. He hopes to grow as a composer, teacher and musician.

Steve and his dad performed at the 2008 TMC Fundraiser and since Steve listed his father as his mentor, he also receives a free year’s membership in TMC.

MARCUS DELEON – Third Place (TMC year’s membership)

Marcus DeLeon, a San Antonio native, is a product of the San Antonio Independent School District and attended both UTSA and San Antonio College (SAC) after graduating from Edison High School he obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at UTSA and worked for several years at Roy Mass Youth Alternatives and as a teachers’ assistant for SAISD. While studying at SAC to complete a teacher’s certification course, he discovered SAC’s RTVF department and switched his studies there, becoming a volunteer DJ at KSYM radio, first serving as Loud Rock Director and then Promotions Director.

In 2007- 2008, he became a paid staff member there as Assistant Program Director, and he continues to volunteer in training future KSYM DJs. Since spring of 2006, he has been hosting either the Wednesday or Thursday night metal shows.

He is continuing his education at SAC, working to complete the last nine hours for an associate degree in Music Business, a program which the late Fred Weiss, a founding member of TMC and RTVF professor at SAC, spearheaded.

Marcus is also launching a record label, recording studio and promotions company this fall.

Aaron Carter-Cohn wins TMC 2008
Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship

Aaron Carter-Cohn was announced as winner of the $500 TMC Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship, at TMCâ€™s 9th Annual Meet & Greet, held this year at Casa Chiapas in Southtown on Sunday, June 29.

Aaron has studied music since age seven, often playing and studying on his own, without an instructor. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Southwestern University in 2006 and is currently studying for his Master of Music degree at Texas State University. He has worked as a pianist, accompanist, music instructor (in piano and guitar), band musician (keyboards/bass) and recording engineer. As a composer, he has scored two short films, El Lagarto (2006) and Splintered (2007). His compositions have been performed by student ensembles from Southwestern, Texas State and UT Austin.

Roxanna Tehrani, was named runner-up. She has been active in choir programs since her middle and high school years. Roxanna took private voice lessons, piano lessons and music theory classes at the Houston Music Institute and placed second in her grade level (9-10, Vocal Solo) in a 2004 performance competition presented by the Texas Music Teachers Association. She was also a Houston Grand Opera High School Voice Studio finalist. Currently, she is working towards her Bachelor of Music degree (major in Music Marketing) at UTSA. Her submission included an essay about her experiences working with the Houston Symphony and the UTSA Lyric Theatre.

Both Aaron and Roxanna received complementary TMC memberships for a year, in addition to Aaron receiving the $500 scholarship.

Scholarship applicants receiving certificates of recognition that evening included James F. Hopkins, Dana Renee Jones, Steve Sellers, Jr., Steve "Sin" Sinatra and Patrick Young. Jones, Sellers and Sinatra are all members of TMC.

Matt Beales wins TMC
2007 Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship

Runner-up is Christopher Covo

Matthew “Matt” Beales was announced as winner of the 2007 TMC Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship at the TMC Panel on July 17 at The Cove, receiving a $500 scholarship and a year’s free membership in TMC. Also receiving a free membership in TMC was runner-up Christopher Covo.

Beales has been playing trumpet for 10 years now, starting in middle school and progressing through marching bands at the high school and university levels, as well as playing in various jazz combos and ensembles. The ska band he started at the age of 14 evolved into The Royal Kustoms three years ago and has been making waves on the San Antonio underground music scene with their witty lyrics, catchy horn lines and anthem choruses. Twenty-one year-old Matt will be using his TMC scholarship when he returns to the University of Texas at Austin in the fall.

Christopher Covo has been a percussionist since the age of 11, honing his skills in middle school and high school bands. He has been selected for the regional jazz ensemble at MacArthur High School numerous times and has pursued a passion for jazz music, gaining experience drumming at many notable S.A. Jazz venues.

Winners in the Texas Music Coalition’s first awarding of the Jack Skiles Music Studies Scholarship were announced Sunday, June 26, at TMC’s 6th annual Meet & Greet, held at Candlelight Coffee House, 3011 N. St. Mary.

Receiving the $500 scholarship, named in memory of noted musician Jack Skiles, was Erik Anderson, a freshman at Alamo Heights High School. Anderson, who was named to the 4A All-State Band, recently completed his second season with the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) Philharmonic. Accepting the scholarship check for Erik, who was attending band camp, was his mother, Lisa “Nadine” Anderson.

Anderson also received a one-year membership in the Texas Music Coalition, as did the three students who tied for second place in the competition: Jacqueline Sotelo, a senior music composition major at the University of the Incarnate Word; Thomas Detamore, a vocalist and senior student at Floresville High School; and Amber Moon, a vocal music education and performance major entering her senior year at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Both Anderson and Sotelo credited music instructor and musician Ron Wilkins with fostering their musical skills and he was presented with a special certificate that night as well. Moon named vocalist and instructor Linda Poetschke as her mentor.
Our thanks to scholarship judges Jim Beal of the San Antonio Express-News, Donnie Meals of Edit Point Studios, and Fred Weiss of San Antonio College’s Radio/TV/Film Department for their work in sifting through the scholarship applications and to Scholarship Chair Nikki Young for initiating this program for TMC. The judging was very close, and all who entered are to be commended and urged to re-apply next year when this scholarship will again be offered.