Frank H. Kenan Scholarship

The Frank H. Kenan scholarship covers educational expenses and required fees for a UNCSA high school student from North Carolina, studying in the school of dance or music, who wishes to attend UNCSA as a college degree-seeking student.

Additionally, the recipient will have the following attributes:

• Has demonstrated excellence, imagination and originality, and great promise in both academic and arts course work.
• Has earned at least a 3.5 GPA in each set of UNCSA courses.

2024-25 Frank H. Kenan Scholar

Ryan Holland is a rising C1 clarinetist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, studying under Dr. Oskar Espina-Ruiz. He attended McDowell High School where he was first in his class before transferring to the high school program at UNCSA as a junior. He completed his high school diploma in the School of Music’s Clarinet Studio with a GPA of 3.85.

Prior to entering the School of the Arts, Holland was part of McDowell High School’s Marching Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble. During this time, he competed and performed in Western NC All-District Bands, NC All-District Orchestra, and NC All-State Band. His past honors also include performing with the 2021 ASBDA National Honor Band in St. Augustine, Florida, as well as the 2022 ASBDA National Honor Band in Denver, Colorado. Outside of school, Holland was the principal clarinetist in the 2021-22 Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra Season as well as the Bass Clarinetist of the 2022-23 Winston-Salem Youth Orchestra Season.

While attending UNCSA’s high school program, Holland has performed with UNCSA’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, NuEnsemble, Chamber Winds, "Nutcracker" Orchestra, Composer Orchestra, and various chamber groups. He most recently was invited to the Idaho Orchestral Institute to play as principal clarinetist for the piece "Mathis der Maler" by Paul Hindemith under the direction of Robert Franz.

Holland enjoys playing in a classical music setting where he can share his passion for music on multiple clarinets including Eb, Bb, and A Clarinets. His favorite pieces he has performed include Overture to "Candide," Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, and Stravinsky’s "Firebird." For his senior recital, Holland chose to play Ravel’s Sonate Posthume, Paisaje Folklórico Nro 2 for Bass Clarinet by Sebastian Tozzola, and his own arrangement of “Im wundershönen Monat Mai” by Robert Schumann for Alto Clarinet and Marimba.

Ryan Holland looks forward to obtaining his B.M. in Clarinet Performance under the direction of Dr. Espina-Ruiz as a Frank H. Kenan scholar.

Contact:
Erin Edge, Kenan Excellence Scholars Liaison
Phone: 336-726-6940
Fax: 336-770-3367