Congratulations to Scholarship Winner Rebecca Hotz

The Seacoast Wind Ensemble (SWE) is pleased to announce that bassoonist, Rebecca Hotz, of Lee, NH, is the 2016 recipient of the Paul M. Erwin Music Scholarship. A junior at Portsmouth Christian Academy, Rebecca has been playing bassoon for six years; she is a student of Janet Polk at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).

An accomplished young musician, Rebecca participates in music ensembles at all levels: high school, community, All-State, and has also attended summer programs, including UNH’s Summer Youth Music School and the New England Conservatory Festival Youth Orchestra. The scholarship that she is being awarded will allow her to participate again in the New England Conservatory’s Festival Youth Orchestra summer program for gifted musicians (NEC FYO). Rebecca will be playing with SWE in June.

About the Scholarship

Paul M. Erwin (1966-2014) was a talented composer, arranger, & musician. Erwin was a prolific composer, premiering over 200 arrangements/original works in his short lifetime. He was a vital part of the New Hampshire seacoast music community and served as conductor of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble (SWE) from 1993-2006. The SWE scholarship program is named in Erwin’s honor and supports young musicians in the seacoast region.

About the Seacoast Wind Ensemble

The Seacoast Wind Ensemble, established in 1984, is a 50-piece concert band, now based out of Kittery, Maine. Comprised of musicians from all professional occupations and trades, SWE performs annually throughout seacoast New Hampshire, Maine, and northern Massachusetts. SWE is directed by Conductor and Artistic Director, Dr. Mark Stickney, who is director of bands at Plymouth State University and Assistant Conductor, Jonathan Roth, who is Music Director of the Shapleigh School in Kittery, Maine.