LaGuardia Arts Graduate Lila Meretzky Wins 2016 Theodora Zavin Scholarship
L-R: BMI Foundation Composer-in-Residence at LaGuardia High School, Jim Pugliese; BMI Foundation’s Rich Garza; Mark Meretzky; BMI Foundation’s David F. Bills; Joshua Zavin; BMI Foundation President Emeritus Ralph N. Jackson; BMI Foundation’s Deirdre Chadwick and Samantha Cox; 2016 Theodora Zavin Scholarship winner Lila Meretzky; BMI Foundation’s Amanda Charnley; Jonathan Zavin.
Photo by: Melissa Dispenza
The BMI Foundation has announced that Nashville-bound composer and musician Lila Meretzky is the winner of the 2016 Theodora Zavin Scholarship, a music study prize named in honor of the Foundation’s late founding President, Theodora Zavin. The $2,000 award was presented at a private ceremony held on June 28th, 2016 at Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)’s New York City headquarters.
The Theodora Zavin Scholarship is granted annually to a graduating senior musician at Manhattan’s prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and recognizes outstanding achievement in composition. The award was established in 2005 through the generosity of friends, family, and colleagues to honor the memory of Theodora Zavin, BMI’s former Senior Vice President & Special Counsel. Zavin was a pioneer supporter of copyright protection on behalf of songwriters and publishers for nearly fifty years at BMI; she also oversaw the establishment of the BMI Foundation and many of its core programs for young musicians.
“The Theodora Zavin Scholarship is a wonderful affirmation of my musical goals,” said Lila. “Scholarships like the one I am honored to receive are a reminder that no matter how great the music of the past, new music is a necessity. In a world where computers can write music, your support of young composers is inspiring and greatly appreciated.”
Lila Meretzky began her musical studies on the piano at age five. Nine years later, she began playing oboe at LaGuardia High School and currently studies with Catherine Gerardi. Lila spent two summers playing oboe and composing at Kinhaven Music School. She is a winner of the Charles Fox Composition Award and the Michael Kamen Oboe Award from the LaGuardia High School Alumni and Friends Association. Lila has participated in New York Youth Symphony’s Chamber Music and Conducting programs. In Fall 2016, Lila will study music composition at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University.