2026 Scholarship
Winners

The Kansas City Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota held their annual Scholarship Auditions on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Leawood United Methodist Church. Ten scholarships totaling $18,750 were awarded. Nine of the scholarships were funded by the Kansas City Music Foundation, and one, specifically for an organ student, was funded by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Twenty-nine applicants performed for judges Ann Marie Rigler, Christy Elster, and Carrie Shuck. The students came from seven different area universities that included University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas, University of Central Missouri, Park University, Northwest Missouri State University, William Jewell College, and Benedictine College.

The scholarship audition committee included Lisa Davis, chair, Nanie Downs, and Taylor Fegan.

The winners will perform on the 2026 Scholarship Winners Concert at 7:00 PM on Monday, April 27, 2026 in the sanctuary at Leawood United Methodist Church, 2915 W. 95th St., Leawood, Kansas.

2026 Judges:
Christy Elster, Carrie Shuck,
and Ann Marie Rigler


Lisa Davis,
Scholarship Committee
Chair, 2026

Taylor Fegan, Jane Christison,
Lisa Davis, and Nanie Downs

YearFirst NameLast NameInstrumentScholarship ReceivedSchool
2026AvivDanielViolinCarolyn McDill Memorial ScholarshipPark University
2026PaytonBoldtVoiceLeona Schaefer Memorial ScholarshipUMKC Conservatory
2026DavidBrillViolinDixie Lou O’Connor Morris Memorial ScholarshipPark University
2026JairZacariasPianoThomas F. Morris Memorial ScholarshipUniversity of Kansas
2026AndrewLernerOrganGKCAGO June Marie Walker Memorial ScholarshipBenedictine College
2026MardonAbdurakhmonovCelloKC Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha IotaPark University
2026YianqiPuPianoKC Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha IotaUniversity of Kansas
2026NaomiSpeckPianoKC Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha IotaWilliam Jewell College
2026Ting-AnChiuPianoKC Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha IotaUniversity of Kansas
2026AnanWangPianoKC Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha IotaUMKC Conservatory