Opera Guild of Granbury awards $5,000 in scholarships

Eight Granbury Theatre Academy students were recently awarded scholarships by the Opera Guild of Granbury.

Totaling $5,450, seniors received a $700 scholarship, while juniors and underclassmen received a $650 scholarship.

Students who received scholarships included: Julia Huggins, Meghan Murray, Lauren Murray, Micah Chesney, Topher Martin, Rachel Mastick, Lily (Finch) McClendon, and Hannah Baker.

The scholarship funds can be used to help pay for any Granbury Theatre Academy-related activity such as classes, summer camp fees, and the Junior Theatre Festival.

“On behalf of the Granbury Theatre Academy, I can’t thank the Opera Guild enough,” said Granbury Theatre Academy Director Matt Beutner. “They constantly support us and in particular, these kids really deserve this support. They were all nominated by me, not just by their talents, but their professionalism on and offstage, and it’s really awesome that the Opera Guild was able to help them pursue more theater endeavors. Every one of these kids wants to pursue theater, and several of them are high school seniors and are ready to follow that path.”

The Opera Guild of Granbury — established in 1978 — is an all-volunteer organization that aims to help support the Granbury Opera House and its allied arts.

Every year, the organization holds fundraisers to ensure scholarships can be awarded to Granbury Theatre Academy students. The awards are given to students who excel as thespians, serve in some capacity in the community, and appear in productions at the Granbury Opera House and other venues to showcase their talent and skills.

“All of us in the Opera Guild work diligently all year to build our funds and that's one of the main things that we want to do is help the kids learn and hone their craft,” said Gari Wise, vice president of the Opera Guild of Granbury and scholarship director.

The Opera Guild of Granbury held three fundraisers this past year — Stumpy’s Chow Down for Charity, Bingo Night at La Bella Luna, and Sip & Support at D’Vine Wine — to raise funds for not only scholarships, but also for needed repairs at the Granbury Opera House.

Wise said the Opera Guild of Granbury has already pledged $30,000 for the purchase of 80 seats in rows A through D of the Opera House for necessary upgrades and repairs.

“We're hoping that our bingo fundraiser on October the 12th really does well,” she said. “We're looking for a sizable pledge amount towards the chairs in our next fiscal year.”

She added that it’s important for the Opera Guild of Granbury to play a part in helping local students improve in theater, so they’re able to follow their dreams.

"The kids are our future,” she added. “We're the present but they're the future.”