Godman and Mann win Rink Memorial Scholarship

The Community Choir, Inc. has announced the selection of vocalist Katherine Godman and fiddler Robert B. Mann, Jr. as winners of the 2012 George G. Rink Memorial Scholarship for Young Musicians.

Katie Godman, a 21 year-old junior at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, is the daughter of Gregory and Diana Godman of Berkeley Springs.

Robbie Mann, a 19 year-old freshman at Glenville State College in Glenville, is the son of Bob and Pam Mann of Great Cacapon.

Godman and Mann will be honored during the Sleepy Creek Children’s Choir concert, 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 6 at Berkeley Springs High School in Berkeley Springs.

Both Godman and Mann were selected to receive the Rink Scholarship based on the superior quality of their application and recommendations from their teachers as well as the strength of their audition performances.

Both winners are familiar faces to local concertgoers. Over the past several years Godman and Mann have performed with the Sleepy Creek Youth Chorale and numerous local musical and theater productions.

Katie Godman, who has studied with local voice instructors Brooke Evers and Patricia Springer, and internationally acclaimed opera singer and coach Charles Williams, most recently appeared in ‘Make a Move’ with Arts Triumphant in Berkeley Springs.

Godman is majoring in Mass Communications and hopes to pursue a career in performing arts.

Robbie Mann has studied fiddle with Joe Herrmann (of the Critton Hollow String Band), and is studying Bluegrass music, as well as fiddle, guitar, bass and vocals with Buddy Griffin and Megan Darby at Glenville State College, which is the first school in the world to offer a 4-year degree in Bluegrass music. Mann is a member of the GSC Bluegrass Band and will be touring with them this summer.

After he earns his degree in Bluegrass, he hopes to achieve his life-long dream of becoming a professional musician and music teacher.

The George G. Rink Memorial Scholarship fund was established in 2009 by The Community Choir Inc.’s Board of Directors in memory of one of the choir’s founding members to further his dream of supporting the development of young musicians in Morgan County.