20th RAMI Awards Ceremony April 29

- Tim Perian and William ‘Alex’ Liddell win Gary S. Wilmer scholarships; Jordan Nettgen wins Youth Charity Jam Scholarship

Staff Report

The Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) Musicians Organization will hold the 20th RAMI Awards Ceremony beginning at 7 p.m., Friday, April 29, at Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Road.

A cocktail/social hour will precede the awards ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. Admission to the cocktail/social hour and awards ceremony is $10 per person for members of the RAMI Musicians Organization, $15 per person for nonmembers.

Tables seating eight can be reserved for the evening for $80 for members, $100 for nonmembers.

For those wishing to attend only the awards ceremony, admission fee is $5 per person, or free to members.

Sarah Griffin, 2011 RAMI Youth Charity Jam finalist, will be performing during the cocktail/social hour. Other performers during the evening will include Daybreak (2011 RAMI Youth Charity Jam winner), The Poets Dance, Hillworms, Men of Our Times, Missing Links, Too Deep, Rockfish, Somo Mojo, Clutch Cargo and Matter of Fact.

This year’s inductees into the RAMI Hall of Fame are Mike Williamson, Too Deep and the Phantom Regiment.

To reserve a table or purchase tickets to the cocktail/social hour and awards ceremony, go to www.ramiawards.com, or for more information, call (815) 546-3021.

Scholarship recipients announced

Recipients of the Gary S. Wilmer and RAMI Youth Charity Jam scholarships will be recognized and awarded their scholarships at the 20th RAMI Awards Ceremony.

Recipients of the Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Scholarship are Tim Perian and William “Alex” Liddell.

Tim, son of Scott and Jeanne Perian, is a senior at Machesney Park Harlem High School and plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study music education. His goal is to obtain a doctorate degree in music and teach at the college level.

Tim has played euphonium for seven years and trombone for three years. He was active in the school marching band and wind ensemble all four years, and was selected to play at the IMEA All-State Festival this year. He also has performed with the Rockford Summer Concert Band, Kishwaukee Valley Community Band, and the Rockford Christian Fellowship Band.

Tim wrote: “I believe the experiences and lessons I have learned will positively impact my future and allow me to be successful in my life—not only in personal achievement, but in assisting others as well through the teaching of music.”

Alex, son of Pat and Karen Liddell, is a senior at Rockford Auburn High School. Alex, a passionate advocate of music and music education, plans on attending Butler University with the eventual goals of teaching and performing.

Alex has played violin for almost 14 years and is in his final semester of his six-year career with the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra, two years of which he was named Concertmaster.

As a member of the Auburn High School band programs, Alex played trumpet and was also the drum major for Auburn’s marching band. It was this position that pushed him in the direction of a music education.

Alex stated, “I want to be the lifeline of music in today’s culture by passing it on to those who come after me.”

The Gary S. Wilmer Scholarship honors the memory and continues the legacy of Wilmer by awarding scholarships to students who wish to pursue an education in music. Graduating seniors from Boone or Winnebago County who have a GPA of at least 2.5, plan to pursue a degree in music performance, education or composition, and are actively involved in school or community musical groups qualify for the scholarship. Students must be nominated by a music teacher.

This is the first year the RAMI Youth Charity Jam Scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school student.

Jordan Nettgen, son of Scott and Valerie Nettgen, is a senior at Belvidere North High School and plans on attending Chicago College of Performing Arts. Jordan’s goal is to obtain a degree in the field of music, which would allow him to do what he loves the most—perform. He also would like to teach music at the university level.

Jordan began piano lessons at the age of 10 and presently teaches piano and guitar to six students. This year, he was selected to perform in the jazz band at the 2011 IMEA All-State Festival.

Jordan is a member of the band Escape, which performed at the 2010 and 2011 RAMI Youth Charity Jams, as well as at numerous festivals throughout the community.

Jordan wrote: “Music is more than entertainment to me. It is a way of life.”

The RAMI Youth Charity Jam Scholarship, formed to assist students who demonstrate financial need, is available to graduating seniors from Boone or Winnebago County who have a GPA of at least 2.5, plan to pursue a degree in music performance, education or composition, and are actively involved in school or community musical groups. Students must be nominated by a music teacher. Preference is given to students who will attend Rock Valley College, Rockford College or Northern Illinois University.

For more information about the Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Scholarship and the RAMI Youth Charity Jam Scholarship, go to www.cfnil.org.

From the April 20-26, 2011 issue