Verna Holley Scholarship Concert

We are two friends and former piano students, Monica and Jayana, who are hosting  a surprise honors concert for a most befitting person,  Mrs. Verna Holley, our childhood piano teacher. In the profile photo is a picture of  Mrs. Holley and a young Monica, now an alumna of the "Holley Harmonizers" piano studio. Verna Holley has touched the lives of many in the Lansing and greater Tri-State area, particularly in the area of music education and performance.    Hence, we, her former students,  would like to show our great appreciation and honor her with a delightful musical concert of pianists, instrumentalists, and choral performances.  Additionally, we will give a one-time scholarship to a well-deserving music student of Mrs. Holley to go to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp or to contribute towards a college music major.  With this GoFundMe campaign, we aim to raise money for a $1000 scholarship and funding for professional catering services for the concert's reception. We have already received generous pledges from donors close to Mrs. Holley who have been impacted by her service and dedication to music.

Monica and Jayana Pyant (the hostesses of this concert) first met Mrs. Holley over 20 years ago as young piano students.  Her loving care and mentorship went beyond teaching music to teaching the value of service, commitment, hardwork, and even spiritual guidance.  She was an extremely positive influence in our lives and has contributed  to our pursuances of  music in different facets of our careers. Mrs. Holley even still serves as an encouragement of her former students as they have become piano teachers, music conductors, collaborative pianists, opera majors, and professional organists in their adult lives.

We are hosting an hour-long concert at the First Presbyterian church in Lansing, Michigan with a small reception following on June 4, 2016 from 2:00 pm-3:00 pm, with a short reception following. It is our sincere hope that this can remain a delightful surprise for Mrs. Holley until that day.


Here is a snippet of the bio of Mrs. Holley, which shows why we feel she is quite deserving of the honor we wish to show her at our event:

"Retired choral music teacher Verna (Dorsey) Holley was born on April 29, 1936,  in Detroit, Michigan, to Pearl Richardson Dorsey and Henry Dorsey. Holley attended Dwyer Elementary School in 1948 before graduating from Northern High School in 1952. Holley completed her B.A. degree in music education at Wayne State University in 1956 and went on to earn her M.A. degree in music at Michigan State University. 

Holley was hired as the fine arts director at J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing, Michigan and worked in the Lansing Public School System until she retired. She then continued to give piano lessons in her home. Holley became the pianist and music director of the Earl Nelson Singers. Founded in 1963, by Earl Nelson, The Earl Nelson Singers Company is an integrated ensemble of singers from the Lansing, Michigan area. As the company’s musical director, Holley selects the sacred Negro spirituals for them to perform. The group’s repertoire included songs reflective of the early “gospel” style. "

Mrs. Holley's music education work has always been done with grace, confidence, and brilliance, and inspired and continues to inspire members of this and the next generation to pursue musical endeavors. Please help us in affording her this deserved honor. Your contribution of any amount by May 1, 2016 will really help towards this cause. 


                                   
                                               Thank you!
Sincerely,
Monica Washington Padula and Jayana Gross Pyant