VERO BEACH – The Vero Beach Opera has expanded its scholarship program to include piano scholarships. The new scholarships join vocal scholarships that have been offered for the past several years.

Talented and committed young piano students on the Treasure Coast who require financial assistance to reach their musical goals can apply for scholarships for private study with Dr. Marcos Daniel Flores. “The piano scholarships are a natural extension of our vocal scholarship program,” said Dr. Joan Ortega-Cowan, President of Vero Beach Opera. “The piano has always been closely linked with opera, and our organization has been supportive of young musical talent since its beginning.”

Applications for a limited number of piano scholarships are now being accepted, with a deadline of June 1.

A copy of the application with submission instructions can be downloaded from Vero Beach Opera’s website at www.VeroBeachOpera.org, or requested by phone by calling (772) 569-6993.

Any student under the age of 18, or older but actively enrolled in a college music study program, is eligible to apply.

An audition will be required as a final step in the process, and scholarships will be awarded by July 1.

Study with Dr. Flores will begin shortly thereafter, and will be customized to the scholarship recipient’s abilities and goals. Dr. Marcos Daniel Flores is a highly regarded concert pianist with over 25 years of teaching experience In addition to his own concert schedule, he serves as the Organist/Pianist and Director of Worship Arts at Christ by the Sea Methodist Church in Vero Beach.

He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, a Masters Degree in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University.

“The study of piano requires many years of individual instruction, and a piano for practice, which can be expensive,” said Patricia Sawyer, Chair of the Piano Scholarship Committee. “This is monetarily impossible for many families on the Treasure Coast. A Vero Beach Opera piano scholarship could lift some of this financial burden.”

The piano scholarships are funded solely by contributions from individual donors.

To make a tax deductible donation to the fund, send a check made out to “Vero Beach Opera, Inc.” with “piano scholarship” in the memo field, and mail to Vero Beach Opera, P. O. Box 6912, Vero Beach, Florida 32961.

To learn more about the piano scholarship program, visit http://www.VeroBeachOpera.org or call the Vero Beach Opera office at (772) 569-6993.

Volunteers serving on the Piano Scholarship committee are Patricia Sawyer (Chair), Shirley Goodell, Janie Gould, Rosemary Gagliardi and Jean Ueltschi.