2023 Jazz Fest winners earn scholarships from Avista Foundation

MOSCOW, Idaho — Four participants at this year’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival received scholarships to University of Idaho from the Avista Foundation for outstanding performances.

Winning vocal performer Sarah Stevenson of Wellington Secondary School in Nanaimo, British Columbia, earned a $1,500 scholarship; and Lucas Allyea, the runner-up from Edmonds-Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington, earned a $1,000 scholarship.

Instrumental Division winner Roman Goron, of Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Washington, earned a $1,500 scholarship; and Max Bartron, the runner-up from Edmonds Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington, earned a $1,000 scholarship.

The scholarships may be used to pursue any U of I major.

“The Avista Foundation has generously offered two scholarships to the University of Idaho for each evening of high school competition. This has created an exciting tradition of student performances at our main stage performances on Friday and Saturday,” said Vanessa Sielert, director of U of I’s Lionel Hampton School of Music, which hosts to the annual three-day event.

Since 2017, Avista Foundation scholarships have been awarded annually at U of I to the top high school vocal and instrumental soloists at the festival.

Thousands of students and community members attended this year’s in-person festival April 19-22 in the ICCU Arena. Headlining artists included Marcus Miller, saje, Diva Jazz Orchestra, Marshall Gilkes and Habib Iddrisu for the evening performances, workshops and educational clinics. Workshops were also conducted by numerous outstanding clinicians and music educators from around the country.

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Media contact

Vanessa Sielert
Director, Lionel Hampton School of Music
208-885-6231
vanessas@uidaho.edu