Jing Yi Sutherland

Dear Sherrill Family and Friends, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for awarding me the Audrey Sherrill & Michael D’Ambrisi Music Scholarship. It means so much to be chosen as a finalist, and I am truly honored to receive your support as I pursue both my academic and personal goals. This scholarship will significantly ease my financial responsibilities, allowing me greater freedom to fully immerse myself in my studies and musical aspirations. As I enter my final year at Bard College and Conservatory, your generosity makes it possible for me to focus on learning, growing, and exploring the intersections of music, culture, and human connection—areas that are deeply meaningful to me. As a Chinese-American adoptee and lifelong student, questions of identity, belonging, and connection have always shaped my path. Navigating cultural in-betweenness has inspired me to uplift others and to create spaces where everyone feels valued and free to be themselves. Music has been a constant presence throughout my life: I began piano at age three and transitioned to cello at age eight. It has remained a lifeline during challenging times and a way for me to express what words cannot. I believe music is a universal language—one that bridges difference and unites us. I am honored to carry forward the legacy of Audrey Sherrill and Michael D’Ambrisi through this scholarship. Your dedication to supporting musicians in memory of your mother is both moving and inspiring. I hope to embody the values she lived by—her passion for teaching and music—and to use what I learn to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Thank you again for your kindness and belief in my potential. I look forward to making the most of this opportunity—and to someday giving back, just as you have done for me. With gratitude, Jing-Yi Sutherland

Gabriela Salvador Riera

Dear Sherrill Family and Friends, I want to express from the bottom of my heart my gratitude for this scholarship, which provides an invaluable amount of support towards my education. My first year at Oberlin has been truly transformative for my playing, and has fundamentally allowed me to mature and flourish as a musician. I feel so lucky to be immersed in an environment where I can continue to be constantly be pushed, inspired, and driven, and that is only possible thanks to you. I am so grateful for the privilege you have given me to continue to hone my craft towards excellence and a career that reflects my values as an artist. Thank you so much! Thank you, Gabriela Salvador Riera