Congratulations to the 2022 Frank and Xenia Anton Desby Memorial Church Music Scholarships Recipients!
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Church Music Federation Ministry is pleased to announce the following eight awardees for this year’s scholarship:
- Rev. Father John C. Beal, Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Lancaster, CA
- Zoi Fontaine, Greek Orthodox Mission Church of Coolidge and Florence, AZ
- Samson Lyman, Holy Trinity Church, Spokane, WA
- Jack McAfee, Saint John the Baptist Church, Beaverton, OR
- Kiersten McAfee, Saint John the Baptist Church, Beaverton, OR
- Yioryia (Yitsa) Prevas, Saint Nicholas Church, Northridge, CA
- Petar Simich, Saints Constantine and Helen Lancaster Church, CA
- Vasilia Tussing, Saint George Church, Eugene, OR
This year the ministry received an unprecedented number of applicants, vying for eight scholarships of up to $500 each to support their goals as Metropolis church musicians seeking to build their musical and liturgical skills to serve in the music ministries of their parishes. This scholarship was originally established in honor of church organist Xenia Anton Desby to serve those wishing to study the organ, but its scope was broadened in 2017 to include those desiring to study organ, keyboard, voice, directing, or composition to honor both her memory and that of her husband, renowned composer and conductor, Dr. Frank Desby. Our panel of highly trained church musicians was impressed with the fine qualifications and recommendations of all the applicants, making their decisions quite challenging. They were heartened to find applicants from both smaller and larger parishes, women and men, and a wide range of ages, including several members under 21. Our warmest congratulations go out to these worthy recipients and their parishes. May God bless them in their studies!