Leonardo Richards & Samuel Tselnik
Music Workshop, in partnership with the Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation, is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Inspire Scholarship: Leonardo Richards and Samuel Tselnik, both seniors at Grant High School.
The Inspire Scholarship is awarded annually to two graduating seniors who demonstrate, through personal essays, the profound impact music has had on their lives. This year’s winners delivered moving reflections that speak to the universal power of music to connect, heal, and inspire.
Leonardo Richards shared how sharing music with others has shaped his life:
“Whether performing at the senior center, playing for a local nonprofit, or simply sharing music with my family, I have seen firsthand how music can uplift and heal. It is a universal language that transcends differences and brings people together in a world that often feels divided. Sharing this gift with my community is one of the greatest joys of my life, and it continues to shape how I move through the world.”
Samuel Tselnik reflected on a powerful moment of musical connection:
“I found it incredible— I still find it incredible— that these people, thousands of miles away living totally different lives than mine, were playing the same music as me the same way I do, and loving it the same way I do. It left me in a state of what is now known as sonder, the realization that the lives of every person are as full as mine. I felt a connection that would have been impossible without music.”
We are honored to support Leonardo and Samuel as they continue their journeys. Their words remind us all why music education matters and why we remain committed to empowering young voices.
Congratulations to both recipients! We can’t wait to see where music takes you next.