New World School of the Arts (NWSA) high school senior Wooldjina Present, soprano in the music division, is among the 2020 recipients of the coveted Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Scholarship.
Along with the other winners, Wooldjina will receive $10,000 to help offset the cost of continuing her classical music studies at a high level and will have the opportunity to perform on From the Top’s national broadcasts.
“On behalf of the music division, we are so proud of Wooldjina and wish her all the success afforded to her by receiving this award,” said Dr. Daniel Andai, dean of Music at NWSA.
“Wooldjina is an incredibly talented, hardworking, and driven singer. Over the past four years, she has sought out opportunities that expand her musical and academic education.
The Jack Kent Cooke Award will allow her to travel to audition for colleges across the country,” said Dr. Jennifer Tipton, adjunct faculty at NWSA and Wooldjina’s private voice teacher.
“I am so honored to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award from From the Top,” Present said. “The financial assistance, leadership opportunities, and workshops and activities will undoubtably help shape my future in the most positive way possible. Thank you to everyone who supported me in making this dream become a reality.”
The selection criteria for the generous scholarship takes into consideration the student’s exceptional musical achievement, academic achievement, strength of character, and unmet financial need.
“Wooldjina Present is a model student in the high school music division,” Dr. Andai continued. “She is a charismatic and confident performer with a beautiful voice. Her leadership skills inside and outside of the classroom make her a valuable asset to the program and to her peers. Wooldjina is versatile in her ability to perform different styles of music, while consistently maintaining a humble demeanor.”
Created in 2005 through a partnership between NPR’s From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, each year, From the Top chooses approximately 20 exceptional pre-collegiate musicians ages 8-18 to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Scholarship which includes up to $10,000 to apply toward instrument purchases, summer camp tuition, college audition travel expenses, private lessons, or other music-related needs; appearance on NPR’s From the Top; and participation in From the Top’s Center for the Development of Arts Leadership Program.
Since 2005, From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation have awarded more than $3 million in scholarships to exceptional young musicians. From the Top is America’s largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of young classically trained musicians.
