WASHINGTON – Howard University student Bria Shauntelle Whitaker has been selected as a 2020 Avedis Zildjian Percussion Scholar, a prestigious set of recognitions awarded to deserving students of music disciplines across the country by American music instrument manufacturer, the Avedis Zildjian Company. Whitaker is a freshman music business major from Bolingbrook, Illinois, and continues a nearly two-decade tradition of Howard University student musicians being among the company’s annual awardees. 

Department of Music Chair Anthony W. Randolph, DMA, says the department is honored to have Whitaker continuing a legacy dating back to 2002 as the latest percussionist to be selected as an Avedis Zildjian Percussion Scholar. Randolph didn’t hesitate to describe Whitaker as, “a very focused, conscientious student and performer,” going on to say, “her future is certainly exceedingly bright.”

Since 1979, the Avedis Zildjian Company, often referred to as Zildjian, has initiated a scholarship program which it says has historically targeted preeminent music schools across the United States. The program provides undergraduate and graduate student musicians annual funding for percussion scholarships at their respective institutions. Only 25 students are selected annually as scholarship recipients – a recognition William Richards, lecturer of percussion at Howard University, says Whitaker is deserving of. 

“It is certainly welcome news to learn that Bria Whitaker has been awarded this year’s Zildjian scholarship,” Richards says. “It has been my pleasure to work with Bria this year and I look forward to her continuing improvement and success! She is undoubtedly an outstanding student and an even better person!”

Richards explains while this is a high mark for Whitaker’s musical journey, her matriculation at the University has only just begun. Whitaker has been a percussionist for the past 11 years, after starting as a 6^th grade music student and learning other instruments along the way, including piano and bass. She credits Neuqua Valley High School as the place where she was truly able to harness her skills. Whitaker says she’s proud to work and continue her studies at Howard University.

“Out of all my time playing, this is the first award I've received recognizing my musicianship and I am very grateful for this honor,” Whitaker says. “I look forward to continuing to work and improve in my next few years at Howard University."

For more information on percussion studies within the Howard University Department of Music, visit https://music.howard.edu. 

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 70 Fulbright Scholars. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.