Six extraordinarily talented performing artists of high school through college-age received BMFA’s 2025 $2,500 Springboard Grants at our Springboard Grant Winners Showcase, held at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia on Saturday, March 29th.
Grants were awarded beginning with the Benoliel-Carey Springboard Grant, to 16-year-old Violinist, Noelle Streuber-Eden (Wynnewood). Other winners included Dancer, Lysa Douglas (New York) (a senior at Fordham University’s Ailey School of Dance); Clarinetist, Zakyya McClenny (Philadelphia); Violinist, Ruslan Dashdamirov, a graduate student at Temple University’s Boyer School of Music (originally from Azerbaijan); Cellist, Kealia Grace Smith (Ocean County, NJ); and Marimba player/percussionist, Sydney Vance (Philadelphia). Each winner outlined how they would use their grant to help them rise to the “next level” with a special project not included in an academic program. At next year’s gala they will explain how they benefitted from their grants and perform for the evening’s attendees. Rather than supplementing tuitions, BMFA supports the “extra dreams” of excellence that can make a significant difference in the career paths of talented young musicians, composers and performing artists.
Grant winners from 2024 began the evening’s program with performances starting with Violinist/Composer Cyrano Jett Rosentrater (Philadelphia) the 2024 winner of BMFA’s special Peter Benoliel and Willo Carey Springboard Grant) performing Bach and also an original composition. Cyrano was followed by Double & Electric Bassist Isabella Amada (Philadelphia) performing an original composition, “Don’t Even Blink,” with a small jazz ensemble; Cellist Julio Martin-Navas (Abington); Violist Sophia Nam (Fort Lee, NJ); and Violinist Miro Raj (Philadelphia), current Concert Master for PYO (Philadelphia Youth Orchestra).
The evening included a strolling violinist, Gabriela Salvador-Riera (Wilmington) (a 2022 grant winner studying at Oberlin) during cocktails and dinner catered by 12th Street Catering; a surprise performance by Kimberly Adam (Kunkletown) (also a 2022 winner now at Juilliard); a silent auction; virtuoso performances by last year’s grant winners; and a magical cabaret by three Broadway stars, staged by New York producer Stephen DeAngelis. The stars were Lorna Courtney (Juliet in & Juliet); Julius Thomas III (Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton), and Emily Bautista (Kim in Miss Saigon) all with mesmerizing performances.
To read more about these astounding musicians, Click here for our 2024 and 2025 grant winners.
Last, but not least, we have another Matching Gift challenge from last year’s Anonymous donor. Every donation up to a total cap of $20,000.00 will be matched in 2025, thus doubling the impact of your giving! We are grateful to our generous donor and also to Phillies Charities Inc. for their exceptional support of the Arts!
The Bruce Montgomery Foundation is a tax exempt 501 (3) (C) public charity. All proceeds support BMFA’s Springboard Grants Program, which benefits talented young people in the Tri-state area and New York City.
Liz Montgomery Thomas
Executive Director
Vicki Thomas Pohl
Chairman of the Board
