Brown scholarships awarded after weekend competition

The 2026 Brown Music Competition was held over the weekend and winners were chosen for the Betty F. Brown and Anna Newell Brown scholarships.

According to Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, homeschooled senior Gabriel Boggs won the Betty F. Brown Award for Instrumental Excellence for his performance. Columbus North senior Francesca Bates won the Anna Newell Brown Award for Vocal Excellence.

Both students will receive a $3,500 scholarship award.

The award winners were chosen at a competition held Saturday at Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s Helen Haddad Hall on Franklin Street in Columbus

28 students participated in the competition, with two seniors receiving an instrumental award and three senior vocalists receiving an award.

Other award winners included:

Senior Instrumental

• Providence Wofford, $1,250
• Carrie Wang, $1,250

Senior Vocal

• Elizabeth Alderfer, $1,500
• Danni Riley, $500
• Annie Green, $500

Underclass Instrumental

• Tyce Branham, $2,000
• Everly Harrison, $1,000
• Elisabeth Laws, $1,000
• Andrew Mohs, $1,000
• Audrey Nye, $1,000

Underclass Vocal

• Ava Burbrink, $3,000
• Liliana Martinez, $2,000
• Addy Newman, $1,000