Fort Walton Beach High School Senior Maxine Sculthorpe was awarded a $1,000 scholarship on May 7 at the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Spring Concert

Sinfonia Gulf Coast is pleased to announce that Maxine Sculthorpe of Shalimar, Florida, has been named the winner of the 2023 Grace Fulcher Memorial Scholarship.

This scholarship, created in memory and honor of Grace Bernice Fulcher, is awarded annually to a Sinfonia Youth Orchestra high school senior. The 2023 scholarship recipient was announced following the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Spring Concert on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

This year’s concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature Sinfonia Youth Orchestra, Sinfonietta Strings, and Sinfonia’s Chamber ensembles.

The scholarship is awarded to contribute to tuition and fees associated with higher education costs. This year’s scholarship amount is $1,000.

Maxine Sculthorpe is a senior at Fort Walton Beach High School, and she has been playing violin for one year in the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra. Sculthorpe says her favorite thing about Sinfonia Youth Orchestra is “the opportunity it provides for musicians to learn from each other, in addition to visits from professional musicians.”

In addition to being a musician, Sculthorpe participates in Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team, Academic Team, Art Club, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Music National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, “Murals with a Meaning” painting project and ballet.

In her scholarship application, Sculthorpe said she plans to attend the University of Florida for her bachelor’s degree in architecture and then attend Cornell University to earn a master’s degree. Additionally, to continue pursuing music, she plans to audition for student orchestras at the University of Florida.

“I have always intended to do all that I can to help others; this scholarship would provide a wonderful foundation for me to do just that,” said Sculthorpe. “As an architect, I hope to combine aspects of philosophy, sustainability, music, and art in everything that I create. I want to help build a more beautiful and accessible future for all people, one that reflects the things that are already innately beautiful in our world: the arts.”

Student applicants must plan to attend, or currently attend an accredited college or university on a full-time basis; have at least a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and have acquired acceptance to or be enrolled at the college of his/her choice and must be an enrolled full-time student for the fall semester of 2023.

“Maxine Sculthorpe is a deserving winner of the 2023 Grace Fulcher Memorial Scholarship,” said Demetrius Fuller, Founder and Music Director of Sinfonia Gulf Coast. “We are proud to support her as she pursues her education and career goals.”

For information on Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Sinfonia Youth Orchestra email Margaret Gordon at mgordon@sinfoniagulfcoast.org or call (850) 460-8800.

ABOUT SINFONIA GULF COAST Sinfonia Gulf Coast was founded in 2005 on Florida’s Northwest Gulf Coast with the mission of redefining the symphony experience. Under the guidance of founder and Music Director Demetrius Fuller and a dedicated board of directors, the nonprofit orchestra is in its 17th season of innovative musical programming, designed to entertain, educate and inspire the community. Since its founding, Sinfonia Gulf Coast has presented more than 650 concerts and events that have reached over 450,000 patrons, has collaborated with numerous nonprofits and businesses throughout the community, and has reached more than 185,000 children through its Sinfonia Guest Artists in the Schools program/music education outreach initiatives. For more information on Sinfonia Gulf Coast, visit SinfoniaGulfCoast.org, call (850) 460-8800, or email info@sinfoniagulfcoast.org.