Shirley McNamara Memorial
Arts Scholarship
The Shirley McNamara Memorial Arts Scholarship is an annual scholarship to graduating high school seniors who are pursuing continuing education and the arts. This furthers the mission of Reprise by celebrating young artists and both encouraging and enabling continued involvement in the arts!
In Memory of Shirley Ann McNamara
July 10, 1929 - November 16, 2020
Shirley (Stewart) McNamara was the grandmother of Reprise founder, Lacey McNamara. She became a very talented musician at an early age singing hymns for a nickel on the street corner in Streator, Illinois when she was only four years old. Music became the love of her life from then on. Shirley became an accomplished singer and pianist by taking piano and organ lessons at the University of Minnesota while attending Minnesota Bible College. She toured the United States for two years, singing gospel music with five other women named Shirley - their group affectionately called “The Shirley Sextet”.
In 1957, she moved to Atascadero, California with her family. Shirley quickly became a well-known leader in the music industry of San Luis Obispo County, where she was a piano, organ, and vocal teacher, choir director, music arranger, and accompanist. Dedicated to the community, she had been the pianist and organist for The Christian Church, Church of the Nazarene, The Family Church, and the Atascadero Bible Church. For many years she was the accompanist for the Atascadero High School Choir.
She passed the gift of music on to her family of 5 children, 14 Grandchildren, and 27+ Great-Grandchildren, who lovingly called her Great One, Grama Mac, or Big Red. There are so many people in the community, young and old, who were taught the gift of music by Shirley, her children, and now her grandchildren.
Shirley played piano for countless weddings, funerals, and community events, all usually for free, just for the love of music. She would say it was her “contribution.” It is this gift that we wish to continue giving to the community in Shirley’s memory.
Lacey McNamara and her Grama Shirley playing on the organ - 2008
Shirley Stewart’s high school senior portrait - 1946
Shirley playing her beloved ivory baby grand for her granddaughter and great granddaughter - 2016
Grama Rocks - 2009
Great One playing piano for two great grandchildren - 2018 (the piano is covered with the high school senior portraits of her 14 grandchildren)
Criteria
Applicants may be pursuing continuing education in an arts program or experience of any medium or genre, or be pursuing the arts as an extracurricular activity.
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria.
Applicants must be graduating from a San Luis Obispo County high school.
Applicants must submit an essay or maximum three minute video explaining
How they have been affected by the arts
How they intend use the funds to continue to pursue the arts after graduation
The application must be received by the application deadline.
Approval is subject to review and discretion of the Board of Directors
Award Calendar & Deadlines
Scholarships will be issued annually in the spring. The application period opens January 1. Complete applications must be received no later 5:00 pm on March 31 to be considered.