CSOL, Inc. Scholarships are offered annually to Charleston tri-county residents. These scholarships are offered to graduating seniors planning to major in music in college, members of the the Charleston County Youth Orchestra and  Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and students planning a summer music study activity. In 2007, almost $20,000 was awarded in scholarships and grants.

This year's $1000 College Scholarship winners were Margaret Allen, violin, Niccolo Muti, violin, and Ellie Jos, violin. They performed at the Fourth Annual CSOL Recital & Reception on May 6, 2007 at the Circular Congregational Church. The CSOL is very grateful to the Circular Congregational Church for allowing us to use their facilities. For the Recital, the College Scholarship winners were joined by representatives from the Matching Grant and Summer Study Award winners. Anne Cai, piano, represented the Matching Grant recipients, and Daniel Imholz, bassoon, and Esther Stoudenmire, piano, represented the Summer Study Award winners.

Margaret Allen has been studying the violin for eleven years. She is currently a student of Mary Taylor. Margaret has participated in the South Carolina Senior All-State Orchestra, the Charleston Youth Symphony, and has soloed with the Charleston Symphony. Margaret has attended numerous summer camps and festivals. Above all else she enjoys playing chamber music, which she hopes to make a career. In the fall of 2007, Margaret will attend the Boston University College of Fine Arts and major in violin performance.

Niccolo Muti, having been fortunate enough to be born into a family of musicians, views the profession of classical music as the door at the end of the tunnel. He is the winner of many competitions and scholarships. He has performed in the Spoleto Summer Festival in Spoleto, Italy in 2003 & 2004. In Jan. 2007, Niccolo appeared in the European Debut with the Romanian State Orchestra in Spoleto, Italy. In the fall of 2007,, Niccolo will be attending Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music.

 Ellie Jos has been playing violin for twelve years. She studies classical music privately with Mary Taylor. She has participated in the Junior and Senior All-State Orchestras as well as Na Fidleiri and the Youth Orchestra. In 2005, she won the Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition. In the fall of 2007, she will be attending NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. When she’s not playing the violin, she enjoys hanging out with friends and contra dancing.

Matching Grant recipient Anne Cai is a ninth grade student at Porter Gaud. She studies piano with Robin Zemp. Anne is also an award winning violinist who studies with Rex Conner and has been a member of the Charleston County Youth Orchestra for six years. Anne is currently Concert Master for the CSYO. See Anne's photo on the preceding page with the Matching Grant information.

Esther Song Stoudenmire, daughter of Myungsook & John Stoudenmire, is an 8th grade student at Pinewood Preparatory in Summerville. Esther began taking piano at the age of five with her mother. She has been a state winner of the SCMTA piano performance competition, was a SCETV winner of the SC Piano Festival, and received the Columbia Music Teachers Assoc. Piano Scholarship. As a participant in the UNC-G Summer Piano Music Camp, Esther was the only 7th grade student selected for the Honor’s Recital. As a Summer Study Award winner, she received a full scholarship from the CSOL to the Discovery Program of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities.

Daniel Imholz is an Honors Freshman at Wando High School; plays bassoon in Wando's Symphonic Band & marching baritone in Wando's Marching Band. This spring, Daniel was seated 1st Chair Bassoonist for SC All-State Orchestra & seated 2nd Chair Bassoonist for SC All-State Band. In December, 2007, as a member of The Symphonic Band, he will compete in the International Midwest Competition in Chicago. In his spare time, Daniel plays trombone in his band, "The Whisper Jets;" and enjoys surfing; and hitting golf balls with his Dad.