Encore! names 10 music camp scholarship recipients
Published 2:14 pm Wednesday, August 5, 2026
QUINCY — Encore!, the volunteer council of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association, has named 10 area students as recipients of this year’s music camp scholarships, marking the 70th consecutive year the organization has funded students’ summer music education.
The scholarships send students to specialized camps across the region this summer and are funded through the estate of Martha McCrory along with proceeds from Encore’s fundraising events, including the Fairy Tale Tea and the Battle for the Baton. Encore said its primary mission is supporting the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association’s youth music programs, reflecting the organization’s belief in the importance of music in young people’s lives.
Two recipients are headed to the Illinois Summer Youth Music camp in Urbana, Illinois. Andrew Damm, a sophomore at Quincy Notre Dame and the son of David and Christine Damm, plays trombone and bass guitar in the school’s ensembles and is a member of the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra. Allison Johnson, a freshman at Hamilton High School and the daughter of Larry and Kathryn Johnson, plays clarinet in the Marching and Concert Bands and also performs with the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra.
Three recipients will attend the Show Choir Camps of America session at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Evelyn Ginos, a seventh grader at Quincy Junior High School and the daughter of Alex and Julie Ginos, sings mezzo soprano and plays percussion with the school’s band and jazz band. Olivia Nytes, also a seventh grader at Quincy Junior High School and the daughter of Sara Nytes, sings alto in the school’s choir and after-school choir program. Emily Piazza, an eighth grader at Quincy Junior High School and the daughter of Raquel Sparrow, sings soprano with the Quincy Area Youth Choir and performs in the school band. Grayson Schmidt, an eighth grader at Quincy Junior High School and the son of Ashley Schmidt, sings soprano in the school’s choir and advanced choir.
Keira Dolieslager, a homeschooled junior and the daughter of Erik and Jennifer Dolieslager, will attend the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She plays violin with the Quincy High School Orchestra, the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra.
Jude Steiner-Haubrich, a junior at Quincy Senior High School and the son of Gregory and Victoria Haubrich, will spend the summer performing with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, based in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He plays in several of his school’s ensembles and is also a member of the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra.
Two recipients will attend the Western Illinois University Community Music School camp in Macomb, Illinois. Nathan Steinkamp, a sixth grader at St. Francis Solanus School and the son of Nick and Jill Steinkamp, performs with the school’s choir, band and jazz band as well as the St. Francis Youth Choir, playing percussion and singing baritone. Bo Weiman, a sixth grader at St. Francis Solanus School and the son of Karen Weiman, plays bass guitar in the school’s band.
