Lee Mitchell Scholarships

Now in its fifth year, the scholarship program began with an endowment from the family of the late Lee Mitchell, an internationally renowned pianist and composer who had a collaborative relationship with the Southern Delaware Choral Society. Although he spent a good part of his later years working and performing in Europe, he maintained a lively and genuine interest in the local music scene. Ever since the Choral Society commissioned him to compose a major piece entitled, Delaware: A Secular Oratorio, which had its world premiere in Georgetown in 1996, we enjoyed the benefit of Lee's extraordinary talent. The Lee Mitchell Award was initiated to advance the cause of music and the arts among high school students in Sussex county. Scholarship students receive a year of private voice instruction, participate in the choral society's upcoming season, and receive concert attire and membership dues.

2007-08 Recipients of the Lee Mitchell Scholarship

Allison M. Clendaniel

Allison first started signing at the age of 6 in the United Methodist church choir and performed her first solo for the big Christmas Eve service. She's been singing ever since! She became involved in local musical theatre at the age of eight. Her passion for being on stage led to a desire to perfect her considerable talent. She has appeared in many productions with Milton Theatre (The Fantasticks, The Importance of Being Ernest) and Milford High School (Brigadoon, Grease, Mame, etc.).

Allison has been selected to All-State chorus for three consecutive years (freshman -3rd chair, sophomore - 2nd chair, junior -1st chair). The summer of her junior year she was accepted into All-Eastern Honor Choir, and this past summer she attended the Eastman School of Music summer program. Allison is singing the part of Yum-Yum in the Mikado and will attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music this fall.

In Allison's words, "This scholarship eases my family's financial problems so much. I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me. Thank you."

Eli Mumford

I’m 17 years old, currently a senior at Cape Henlopen High School. I live with my mom and my younger sister. I’ve been studying voice for 4 years, and recently picked up the piano. I also play the trumpet in the school band. I plan on going to college for voice and opera performance. I want to travel the world singing with the best. I’m currently studying with Iris Stuart, but have studied under Becky Hale, my grandmother Mary Mumford and Hester Young. My greatest accomplishments so far are singing in Notre Dame Cathedral for the Bishop and also in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice.

Graduates of the Lee Mitchell Scholarship Program

Garrett Williams

Garrett, a first year Lee Mitchell scholar, is entering his second year of performance with the Southern Delaware Choral Society. A senior at Cape Henlopen High School, he has kept music as his main hobby over the last four years, participating in chorale, concert band, marching band, jazz band, and musicals. Garrett has sung in the Delaware All-State Choir for four years, and is preparing for a fifth. In addition to studying voice, he plays the alto saxophone and guitar. Academically, he has maintained a high GPA and has been ranked fourth in his class. Garrett plans to attend college as an engineering major, and is presently considering the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Lehigh University, and Lafayette College. His goal is to keep music as a main hobby throughout his life, and hopes to sing as long as he is able to step up onto that top stage riser.

Kameron Schleifer

Being a Lee Mitchell Scholar for the past year is a small part of what Kam has been up to. While preparing with the Choral Society for the Christmas Messiah performances last Fall, he was selected First Chair Bass II All-State Choir, having studied voice with Becky Hale in preparation. At the same time, Kam was chosen to play the lead role of Emile de Becque in the Cape Henlopen production of South Pacific. As a member of his high school jazz band, he performed at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, a Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers basketball game, and the Delaware Education Association Statewide Conference. Then, shortly before the SDCS Spring concert, he spent ten days living in France as an exchange student, during which time, "I was fortunate enough to attend a professional choir's performance of Mozart's Requiem. I was excited to learn that the Choral Society is performing this same piece in the Spring." Soon after the Choral Society's Spring concert, he traveled with his school to Atlanta where he performed with the Junior Band, Senior Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band and Senior Choir, all of which earned superior ratings. Most recently, Kam was one of forty students in the State to attend the Governor's School of Excellence. Students are selected based upon excellence in instrumental, vocal, theatrical, visual art, and academic performance in their home school, having first been nominated by teachers and principals before auditioning or being interviewed by UD staff members. Kam had the opportunity to spend a week this summer training with a select group of students one-on-one with the UD Vocal Department. All of this while maintaining his position in the top 7% of his class.

Kam intends to pursue all of these interests in his upcoming senior year, and is beginning to investigate colleges, including including the Oberlin and Curtis conservatories, as well as Boston and Dusquene Universities and New York's Julliard School. As for his experience with the Choral Society, Kam had this to say, "I greatly appreciate and express deepest gratitude to the Southern Delaware Choral Society for providing me with the Lee Mitchell Scholarship and the opportunity to sing with musicians who have had more years singing experience than I have had birthdays!" Kam, the Choral Society is delighted to welcome you back for a second stint as one of our Lee Mitchell Scholars for the 2005-06 season.

Caitlin Wasson

Caitlin is a former Lee Mitchell scholar. She is a senior at Seaford High School, where she is very active in the music program. She sings in the high school chorus and was a member of All-State Chorus in her ninth grade years. She plays French horn and was a member of County Band last year, and plans to participate in the marching band as a drum major during the upcoming season. As if these activities were not enough, Caitlin sings in the Mt. Olivet Church choir and plays the handbells. Her career goals are to perform in opera and musical theater.