Pittsford Musicals’ Merit Scholarships
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!
Read more about our winners below!
Merit Scholarship Winners
These scholarships were awarded in memory of Peter L. McDonnell: long-time contributor and supporter of PM.
Cora Baird
Cora Baird is profoundly honored and overjoyed to have been selected as a scholarship recipient! Cora’s plan for next year is to attend the University at Buffalo for Music Education, where she will be a member of the marching band. Cora also hopes to continue performing as a pit musician for musicals.
Cora’s involvement with the performing arts includes concert band, jazz band, marching band, pit band in her school's drama program, performing with the Hochstein Youth Wind Symphony, and performing in two rock bands outside of school.
Carter Brooks
Carter Brooks wears many hats in the performing arts world. On stage, backstage and above the stage. He is a musician playing bass and tuba. An actor in multiple musical theatre productions, and is a lighting technician hanging and focusing spotlights on others.
Carter is heading to the University at Buffalo in the fall and is beyond thrilled to join their marching band. He is always looking for ways to perform and ultimately show his love for the Arts in all he does while inspiring younger artists to fulfill their own passions. Most importantly, he hopes to inspire his two younger siblings in a similar artistic paths as he makes his own way into the “real world.”ver it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Ainsley Teeters
Ainsley Teeters is honored to be a recipient of this year’s Pittsford Musicals Scholarship! A recent graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School, Ainsley has been involved in theatre, choir, and dance for over a decade. Some of her favorite roles include Little Women (Meg March), Footloose (Vi Moore), Side Show (Violet Hilton), Anything Goes(Hope Harcourt), and Anastasia (Anya). She has trained privately with voice teacher Deborah Conquest and acting coach J Simmons, whose guidance has been instrumental in helping her grow as a performer, and person. Ainsley was recently named a finalist in the 2026 Stars of Tomorrow NYC Bound Competition, a participant in the NYSSMA Conference All-State Choir, and received Sutherland High School’s Outstanding Vocal Student Award. She is very excited to be continuing her theatrical journey this fall, where she will pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC! Ainsley is incredibly grateful to her family, friends, teachers, and mentors for their constant encouragement and support. Follow her journey: @ainsleyteeters
John Hennessey Memorial Scholarship Winners
Claire, Maeve, and Michael are all 2026 graduates of Honeoye-Falls Lima HS and were students of late director and PM friend, John Hennessey.
Claire Connors
Claire Connors is honored to receive this scholarship from Pittsford Musicals! Claire graduated from Honeoye Falls- Lima High School in June. Some of her favorite roles include Cinderella this past spring in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Chris Gorman (Rumors), Fate 1 (Hadestown: Teen Edition), and Abby Brewster (Arsenic and Old Lace). This fall, Claire will be attending Nazareth University to major in Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Psychology, with a minor in Music, as well as being a part of the Honors Program. She is thankful for her family’s endless support, her friends for being her role models, and the HF-L music program for all the memories over the past ten years. And she thanks Pittsford Musicals for this honor!
Maeve Connors
Maeve Connors is so honored to receive this scholarship in remembrance of her former director, Mr. Henessey. Maeve has been involved in theatre since Kindergarten, her first show being Frozen Jr. Some of her most recent roles were Fate 2 (Hadestown: Teen Edition), Claire Ganz (Rumors), Marie (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), and Martha (Arsenic and Old Lace). This coming fall, Maeve will be attending Nazareth University’s Honors Program to major in Inclusive Childhood Education & Mathematics, and she will be minoring in Music! Maeve would like to thank her family for always being supportive, her friends for lifelong memories, and the HFL music program for teaching her so many valuable lessons along the way.
Michael Ruff
Michael Ruff is excited and honored to be a recipient of this scholarship! He has been involved in theatre and music since elementary school, previous roles including Hermes (Hadestown), Lenny Ganz (Rumors), Mortimer Brewster (Arsenic and Old Lace), and Prince Topher (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella). Next year, he will attend Georgetown University to study Public Policy and Theater and Performance Studies. He is also looking forward to organizing the 3rd annual Harmony: A Charity Concert for Change this summer, benefitting global communities. He is very grateful to his family for their endless support and the Honeoye Falls-Lima music department for teaching him everything he knows, as well as Pittsford Musicals for this amazing honor.
Memorial Fund Scholarships
Pittsford Musicals also maintains a memorial fund to supplement our scholarship giving. When we are able to give from the fund, any scholarships given will be in the name of one of the ones remembered. If you’re interested in donating directly to the memorial fund, please complete the form below and dedicate the gift to the Memorial Fund.
Since its inception in 1966, Pittsford Musicals has made awarding Merit Scholarships to high school seniors a priority. Pittsford Musicals is proud to have given over $100,000 in scholarship money to aspiring musicians. Part of our mission as an organization is to give back to the community and our future generation of performers. We would like to offer our support to local, motivated seniors who are looking to pursue their musical or theatrical interests in college. If you know of a worthy recipient for this scholarship please let them know of this opportunity!
-Rachel Benjamin, chair of the PM Scholarship Committee
recent Scholarship Winners
2026: Cora Baird (Wheatland-Chili HS), Carter Brooks (Pittsford Sutherland HS), Claire Connors (Honeoye Falls-Lima HS), Maeve Connors (Honeoye Falls-Lima HS), Michael Ruff (Honeoye Falls-Lima HS), Ainsley Teeters (Pittsford Sutherland HS)
2025: Aaliyah Nicholas (Pittsford Sutherland HS), Jeremy Neely, Hannah Yaravitz (Webster Schroeder HS)
2024: Benjamin Saunders (Pittsford Mendon HS), Madelyn Krebs (Pittsford Sutherland HS), Lea Mancarella (Brighton HS)
2023: Dylan Bachmann (Pittsford Mendon HS), Sophie Hilger (Brighton HS), Jared Berger (Pittsford Mendon HS)
2022: Molly Connors (Honeoye Falls-Lima HS), Fendi Curry (Eastridge HS), Molly Collins (Pittsford Mendon HS)
2021: Lydia Diekman (Pittsford Sutherland HS), Brynn Smith (Webster Thomas HS), Sierra Stevens (School of the Arts)
2020: Genevieve Wright (Pittsford Sutherland HS), Isabella Antonetti (Pittsford Mendon HS), Sarah Zwart (Pittsford Sutherland HS)
2019: Autumn Chapman (Victor HS), Savannah Devlin (Eastridge HS), Ashira Fisher-Wachspress (School of the Arts), Nick Kinney (Pittsford Sutherland HS), Kevin Leysath II (Rush Henrietta HS)