OSA Scholarship Recipients
Luca Parenti
Drummer, 8th grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2021-22
“My major influences were my father, Daniel Parenti, a local bass player and Tommie Bradford, a renowned drummer. It all started in a local church in Richmond CA, where my dad and Tommie would play every Sunday, called ICC. I would go along with my dad and be his “roadie.” Watching them play always inspired me. As I got older I began to really understand what good music looked and sounds like. At the age of seven I got my first “big boy” drum kit. I sat down and started playing and I haven’t stopped. That’s when I also discovered more great music and various music genres, such as alt rock, funk, fusion and Jazz. Jazz is definitely the genre that drew me in, and really got me into playing music. I feel like music has helped me in so many different ways. It helped to build my confidence for sure, and opened my mind up to so many things and possibliities. My goal with music is to teach others to appreciate and to perform music, and to keep Jazz alive for the next generations. I have gone a long way with music so far, and I am excited to see how far it will take me.”
Zion Gray
Piano, 7th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2021-22
“I incorporate music into my everyday life by listening and playing music everyday. Whenever I do something like my homework or playing a sport, music helps me to focus so I listen to music a lot in my free time. My major influences were my parents and my grandfather. My parents are performers. My father plays drums professionally and my mother sings professionally. They would always take me to their gigs and I would get to listen to the music they made and that inspired me to play music. My first instrument was drums and then I started learning trumpet from my grandfather. But piano really stuck with me. My grandfather would always give me tips on how to improve my piano playing. The type of music that ignited my passion was mainly Jazz. Almost every night at dinner, we would listen to some kind of Jazz, whether it be Blues, smooth Jazz or early Jazz, and I loved it.”
Madison Hung-Haas
Bass, 12th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2021-22
“My dad is my biggest musical influence. I grew up listening to him play guitar, piano, and accordion. We watched music documentaries, read books and listened to hundreds of records together. When I was six, I took my first piano lesson. When I was eight, my mom encouraged me to join the Purple Bamboo Orchestra (a Chinese youth orchestra). I chose the one non-Chinese instrument, the cello but was still exposed to Chinese music. One of my biggest role models has been Helen Sung, a professional Asian female Jazz pianist. I had never seen anyone who resembled me in Jazz music before seeing her. At OSA I started off playing the cello, but when I wanted to join the jazz band I began learning the upright bass. I taught myself the electric bass when I found books filled with transcribed Paul McCartney and James Jamerson bass lines. By sight reading those charts and playing along with the Beatles and Motown music, I expanded my skills so that I could play more genres such as R&B and Funk. My love for the large range of genres that I enjoy are reflected in the different instruments I play. I have noticed that Jazz music is composed of predominantly male musicians and I rarely see Asian female players (much less bass players). I have played in all-female combos and I have spoken to younger female musicians about my musical journey. I hope that I have been a role model for young girls (particularly Asian girls) to participate in Jazz ensembles so that in the future it is no longer a male dominated field.”
Jesse Dicruttalo
Guitar, 12th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2021-22
“I can’t remember my life without guitar. My dad played for me since I was a newborn, mostly classic rock and blues, and those were my first major influences – bands like The Who, Pink Floyd, B.B. King, and Led Zeppelin. My first serious guitar teacher was Mr. Anseth. I started studying with him when I was 8. He’s been a huge influence and inspiration and one of the main reasons I tried out for OSA. He taught me almost everything I know, introduced me to jazz music and some incredible guitarists like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Their technical abilities blew me away. But metal is the genre that I have gravitated toward in my teenage years, starting with Metallica and moving toward faster and harder genres like death metal and groove. Words fall short when I try to explain my passion for metal. It’s a powerful feeling I get when I hear and play the music. It’s fast, it’s technical, it’s all encompassing, it’s incredibly rhythmic. Even the vocals are based around rhythm. Now I practice 3 times a week with my two death metal bands and my passion continues to grow, expanding to audio production and engineering, the emphasis I switched to a month ago. I am trying to become proficient in as many aspects of the music world as possible.”
Jeremiah Woods
Drums, 6th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2020-21
“I remember when I first found the love for music at the age of 2 or 3 years old; when my parents bought me my first mini drum set for Christmas. From then on I have loved the sound of music and playing the drums. I actually taught myself how to play the drums watching YouTube videos. Then I grew from there and started playing in church. Studying music at OSA has been one of the best things that could have happened to me. I have been learning a lot of new things for it to be my first year here. Studying and playing the drums as long as I have helps to relax my mind, body and soul.”
Merry Kalila Martinez-Griffith
Cello & Violin, 9th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2020-21
“To me, studying music means setting challenging goals for myself and working to reach them. Sometimes a new piece seems unplayable when I first look at it, but by learning small parts at a time, and working at it everyday, what seemed impossible becomes something I can do. This is an extremely satisfying feeling. I like to play pieces from different cultures and from different musical genres. It helps me to be open minded and curious about other cultures. I have studied Celtic music, Jazz, Mariachi, Scandinavian music, American Old Time and Bluegrass as well as Classical. At OSA I hope to increase my knowledge and my skills, and my exposure to people who come from different backgrounds from myself.
Beyond OSA I plan to study music in college. In addition to performing music I’d like to learn more about composition, which is a recent interest. When I was seven years old, my mother took me to a concert performed by Casey Driessen, who was playing a solo show with his 5 string electric fiddle and a looper. On the way home, I told my mom I wanted to play the violin; we started looking for a teacher right away. A couple of years later, I became interested in the cello and I’ve been playing both ever since.”
Sylvia Ettinger
Flute, 12th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2020-21
“To me, music means connection: It transcends barriers of language and unites us across all differences. Playing music has always been my means of self-expression. It allows me to communicate my thoughts, emotions, and experiences and to connect to others and the world itself on a level deeper than words can achieve. When I began studying flute at Oakland School for the Arts, I had never before played music with such a high level of artistry and camaraderie. It was an eye opening experience. Studying music gives me a sense of belonging within the artistic community and has opened the door to incredible friendships. In addition, studying music makes me a better person by teaching me skills such as communication, compassion, leadership, and perseverance that I endeavor to apply to all aspects of my life. I feel incredibly grateful to have learned and grown through music, and for the multitude of ways in which it has bettered my life.”
Felicia Ng
Marimba, 6th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2020-21
“Music is my best friend, listening and playing music makes me happy. Music also helps me to kill time, and without music I think the world would be dull. If I play music I could make the world colorful and exciting. I like playing the marimba because I like the sound, it is also fun for me to play. I also feel that I have a bad memory, so playing string instruments was difficult for me, but when I played the marimba it just felt right. Sometimes I feel lazy but playing marimba or other musical instruments is just as important as sleeping, eating, reading, and games. I love Music and I want to make music part of my future achievements.”
Malachi Del Rosario
Jazz Guitar, 11th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2019-20
“Studying music means learning and understanding myself as a musician and an individual. As a child, I’ve always been interested in music constantly figuring out which instrument best suits me. Eventually, I picked up the guitar and fell in love, slowly beginning to understand the language of music. OSA has not only developed my talents as a musician but has carefully cultivated this growing passion, providing purpose in my everyday life as well as introducing me to a world of artists and creators. Now on my second year at the school, I find myself exceeding my musical expectations, utilizing every day as an opportunity to grow. Above all, I’ve discovered much about myself and the person I wish to be. Currently, OSA has integrated numerous life skills, all of which are guaranteed to stay. The consistency of daily practice, how to be a professional, and the management of academics and art are a few things I’ve certainly improved on. What keeps me motivated is my own constant desire to play and get better. I love the thrill of performing and I seek that moment where the only thing that matters is the present. Music today is the sole purpose of my life and will remain so in the near future.”
Hannah Mayer
Piano, 12th grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2019-20
“Here at OSA, music has created so many opportunities for me. I have grown so much and continue to grow as a musician through learning from amazing faculty every day, building relationships with other young musicians, arranging original music for ensembles, and receiving countless performance opportunities. Additionally, I have been able to meet well-known musicians and educators with whom I can connect with outside of school. For example, drummer Carl Allen did a masterclass with the Big Band last year, and over the summer, I attended the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony where he was on faculty. I was able to introduce myself as an OSA student, and I instantly had a connection with him where he would remember me on a deeper level than other student musicians in the program. At OSA I have also gotten the opportunity to collaborate with the musical theatre emphasis and have served as an accompanist for several of their rehearsals and performances. I hope to pursue jazz and accompaniment in the future, both skills that I am honing at OSA. I am currently applying to music conservatories for college where I plan to major in jazz studies. My love of music inspired me to take up piano at age 5, and I began to play jazz because I was captivated by the idea of communicating and conversing with others through melody. That musical conversation has become an essential part of who I am, and I cannot imagine my life without it.”
Leo Sens
Classical Guitar, 8th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2019-20
“Since 3rd grade, it was my goal to attend OSA. To get the opportunity to study music on a professional level with such depth is a dream of any musician, and since I began at OSA I have strived to make every minute of it worth it. Music was always intriguing to me. It’s a universal language, that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone with the drive and ambition to play an instrument. During my years at OSA and in my years to come, I hope the musicianship I’ve been learning to access at the school will be a versatile tool that I will be able to use on a professional and personal level. When I was 5, I signed up for classical guitar lessons. An instrument and style I chose without much thought to it. I continued for about 2 and a half years, never really applying much to it, thinking of it more as a hobby or side project. The real influence for my strong interest in guitar was introductions to the music of Leo Brouwer. His pieces were unique and unprecedented and lacked the very classic playing styles I was already familiar with and demonstrated a new and modern fashion that sucked me into the world of classical guitar. Further studying guitar at OSA has been a life-changing experience musically and personally.”
Alaysia Bobo
Cello, 8th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2019-20
“Studying music allows me to feel free of stress or worry, actually it puts me in a better mood. When I have a dilemma or issue in my life, music turns my day from rainy to sunny. Being in the music department at OSA for three years has really changed my life. I have music classes for two periods 4th and 5th and that’s where I became more confident with myself and comfortable to do better. I was and am hungry to do my art better so I can become great one day. What inspired me to play was my gut. At first, I was going to play the violin because it was what everyone was doing but I didn’t want to do what everyone wanted so I chose cello.”
Isabelle Wolansky
Flute, 2019 Graduate
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2018-19
“Studying music gives me something to focus on that can be stress-relieving and exciting. It helps me take my mind off of things, especially when I'm having a hard time emotionally. Other times when I'm in a good mood, I get restless wanting to play something, and once I do it is always very fulfilling. In the short term, music gives me a reason to come to school every day and helps me stay motivated. In the third grade, I started taking song flute classes at school. One day, a girl came to class with a beautiful, silver C flute. The sound was mesmerizing. I love trying new things, so naturally I wanted to play the “real” flute too. I began to take flute lessons and ended up enjoying it tremendously. Through music lessons, I learned that achievement stems from practice and hard work. For the first time in my life, I felt accomplished and eager to learn more. Beyond OSA, I see music as a way of having fun on my own and in group settings. One of the best things about playing music is going through the difficult and fun parts, the sad, impactful pieces and the exhilarating pieces alike- experiencing all of it and sharing that feeling with others. It's a big part of my life now and always will be - there isn't a day that goes by in which I don't play or listen to music. I want to continue to study music in college and enter a career that relates to music.”
Taijee Shavers
Saxophone, 2019 Graduate
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2018-19
“As I have been studying music, I have been more responsive towards my voice and emotions. I was never really able to process what I was thinking until I was able to play music. In the short term of being at OSA, I am exploring different genres of music including classical music and jazz, through performance and composition. Long term, after OSA, I want to study Music Composition during college, and then branch out into film composition later on afterwards. I was inspired to play music overall by my grandmother. I heard many stories about her being a musician and I wanted to follow that type of path someday. I was never able to meet her, however, since she died before I was born. The saxophone was something I picked up as I listened to John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. I have affected others positively through music by leading by example. I am always active with the music and I love helping others so that they can understand the meaning of the piece in general. One of the main reasons why I play music is to spread positivity for everyone, so this is just built into what I can do for my ensembles.”
Tessa Cheng
Violin, 7th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2018-19
“Studying music means more to me than just playing an instrument. It means expressing myself, and being myself too. Ever since I was born, I've had a fascination for sound and music in general. The way it was created was -- and still is -- magical to me. I'm not sure what attracted me to the violin at age 4. Maybe it was the shape, maybe it was the sound the instrument made when it was played, but I knew right away that I was going to play the violin. At OSA I get to study violin 5 days a week! And I am looking forward to the strings' winter recital. I see studying music at OSA affecting my life in the short term because even though I have played in front of other students’ families with my private teacher, I still think that performing in front of people who I don't know and have never seen before will be a good change and will prepare me for my musical career. I see OSA affecting my life in the long term because OSA teaches me how to work as a team in my orchestra. Of course, other people with different instruments work together as well, but with the string orchestras I feel that we really have to understand and connect with one another when we play. This is a skill I know will still apply when I'm older and will be helpful as I go beyond OSA.”
Iona Kambouridis
Trumpet, 8th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2018-19
“To me, studying music is what shapes my life. I've always felt that everyone should have something to set them apart from being average. It’s not always an art, but a sport, obsession, or talent. Without something to shape it, life turns monotonous. My first contact with a trumpet at a music camp during the summer of first grade was all the inspiration I needed to beg my mother for music lessons. Today, one of the most satisfying sights is that of a piece of music that looks insanely difficult so that I can take it home and spend hours working out the rhythms, the runs, the kinks. On the flip side, the feeling of having skipped a day of practice is one of overwhelming guilt, kindled, but not sparked by the nagging of my parents. Thus, I work hard to see that I put in my practice time each day, though the occasional slip is inevitable. But when I put in the time and perfect my pieces, it is always worth the effort when I rehearse with my band and feel the music coursing through me as my part mingles with the others. That feeling is the reason I play trumpet. I don't know where music will take me, the same way I don't know where it will take me when I take home a difficult piece for a night's practice, but I do know that I will never let music out of my life.”
Dimitri D'Ambra
Trumpet, 9th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2017-18
“Being a musician to me is a sort of place of safety or protection from the rest of the world. I find that music is my only true way of self-expression. The main reason I play is because there’s so much I can say with music that I can’t actually say with words.”
Felix Silbelus
Guitar, 8th Grade
Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Winner 2017-18
“Studying jazz and classical guitar for almost two hours a day has been a dream come true for me. Every day I look forward to playing music with my friends and it’s the best part of my school day. Someday, I want to become a professional musician who can play jazz and everything else.”