Berks Sinfonietta has announced the winners of its newly launched annual Scholarship Competition, aimed at recognizing and encouraging talented young musicians in Berks County.
The inaugural first-place award was presented to Ariel Metzger, a 12th-grade percussionist from Wernersville. The second-place winner is Artemis Drake, an 11th-grade oboist, also from Wernersville. Both students will each receive a $500 scholarship and the opportunity to perform alongside Berks Sinfonietta at its August 16, 2025, concert. Further details on the performance will be announced later this spring.
Open to Berks County high school students in grades 10 through 12, the competition welcomed applicants of any instrument or future academic focus. The application process was conducted entirely online and required students to submit a questionnaire along with a video performance. Eight students submitted entries in this first year.
“We are delighted to provide a platform that enables exceptional young musicians in Berks County to showcase their skills and win awards,” said Dr. David McConnell, Artistic Director of Berks Sinfonietta.
The competition revives a tradition once upheld by the Reading Symphony Orchestra (RSO), which for years hosted a similar scholarship program that provided performance experience and recognition to student musicians. Berks Sinfonietta expressed gratitude to the RSO for beginning that tradition and to the Reading Musical Foundation (RMF) for its support in launching the new iteration of the program.
Berks Sinfonietta emphasized its appreciation for the students, families, and teachers involved, noting the impressive musical talent evident in this year’s submissions. Organizers hope the competition will become a lasting part of the local musical landscape, offering developmental opportunities for young musicians in the years to come.
