10/05/2026
Five junior voice primaries competed this Sunday for the Mel & Jena Hakola Prize for Academic & Vocal Excellence. This competition recognizes voice students who demonstrate exceptional vocal, musical, intellectual, and creative talents, and who have the potential to make a significant contribution to music performance. Created by the friends and family of Mel Hakola ‘51, a distinguished voice professor at the BW Conservatory for 38 years, the prize serves to promote and recognize a high standard of excellence among voice students at BW! 🎶
VOCAL CONTESTANTS:
Madison Barsham
Berlin Butzer
Sophia Jenkins
Tessera Rippentrop
Abigail Spiker
COLLABORATIVE ARTISTS:
Jason Aquila
Susan Schoeffler
CONTESTANTS STUDY WITH APPLIED FACULTY:
Professor Nancy Maultsby
Professor Sue Wallin
Special thanks go to Dr. Joanne Uniatowski for helping to coordinate this year’s competition.
JUDGES:
Ms. Dina Kuznetsova Toliver, Associate Professor of Voice, Cleveland Institute of Music
Dr. Cynthia Skelley-Wohlschlager, Assistant Professor of Voice & Vocal Chamber Music Faculty Coordinator, Cleveland Institute of Music
Dr. Nicholas Klein, Director of North Coast Men’s Chorus, Former head of voice, Cleveland State University
The winner of the 2026 Mel & Jena Hakola Prize is Abigail J. Spiker, soprano🎉 Abigail is pictured above with Professor Nancy Maultsby!
Abigail is a student of Professor Nancy Maultsby. Performing “Vedrai carino” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, “On Music” by Ben Moore, and “In dem Schatten meiner Locken” from Spanisches Liederbuch by Hugo Wolf, Abigail collaborated with pianist Susan Schoeffler.
Please join us in congratulating each of our outstanding contestants!👏
