Bethany Wallentine awarded the 2021 Claudia Bigler choral scholarship from the Utah Music Foundation
Bethany Wallentine
May 19, 2021
Salt Lake City, UT — Utah Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to musical students from Utah communities, is thrilled to announce Bethany Wallentine as the recipient of the 2021 Claudia Bigler choral scholarship. Bethany is a 2021 graduate of Box Elder High School in Brigham City, UT and will be attending Weber State University.
“I am Bethany Wallentine and am the daughter of Jill and Don Wallentine. I feel so honored to have received this scholarship.” says Bethany. “I’ve lived in Mantua, Utah all my life and love it. I began singing when I was the age of four and have continued to do so throughout my life. I was fortunate enough to study with Tami VanDusen for three years. After high school I plan to attend Weber State University and do all I can to always continue my education as well as my vocal performance abilities.”
This $500 scholarship is awarded each year based on the applicant’s involvement in choir and a brief essay. This short essay invites students to reflect on how choral music has influenced their lives and how they will be involved in choir going forward. The application process opens each spring and applicants are invited to apply at www.utahmusicfoundation.org.
To view prior year recipients of this and other scholarships, please visit the Utah Music Foundation website.
For more information, please contact: info@utahmusicfoundation.org
About Claudia Bigler
Claudia Bigler is recently retired from 24 years of directing choral music at Box Elder High School, in Brigham City, Utah. Prior to her tenure at Box Elder, she taught in the Carbon School District in Southeastern Utah for six years. She also directed a 100 voice children’s choir, The Music Company, in Brigham City for 6 years, before moving to Price. She has taught Middle School, Junior High School, and High School, and has served as a music consultant/teacher for the Northern Utah Home School Association, working with elementary students. She has loved teaching every age.
Ms. Bigler has served as Choral Vice-President of the Utah Music Educators Association, and is a past State President of Utah ACDA. She is currently working as a member of the UHSAA State Adjudication Committee. She has served twice as a guest director for the Utah State Women’s Honor Choir, the Utah State Junior High School Honor Choir, the Cache Children’s Choirfest, the Clark County, Nevada, Honor Choirs, and numerous district honor choirs. She continues to direct Honor Choirs around the west by invitation. She has twice been a director for the Utah Ambassadors of Music European Tour. Her choral groups have performed for Region ACDA Convention, and for the UMEA Convention.
In 2012, Ms. Bigler was recognized with the Superior Accomplishment Award, from UMEA. In the 2014-15 school year, Mrs. Bigler was named Outstanding Music Educator by the Utah Music Educators Association. She was also given the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Utah High School Activities Association, and went on to receive the same award for Section 7, which includes California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii. She is a published composer, with several pieces in print.
Ms. Bigler is married to Jeff Bigler, (a first tenor) and she and her husband were recently retired from singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, having reached the out-to-pasture age of 60.
About Utah Music Foundation
Founded in 2018, the Utah Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students in Utah reach their musical and academic potential. Utah Music Foundation offers scholarships to musical high school students to help alleviate the financial burden of their college education. In 2020, more than 65 students representing over 25 high schools from 10 counties in Utah applied for available scholarships. Utah Music Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a public charity with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Visit www.UtahMusicFoundation.org for more information.