The Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills' annual Picquet Music Festival was presented Wednesday, April 16, at the National Golf Club in Pinehurst with eight outstanding high school musicians competing for $3,000 in scholarship prizes.

"Only three scholarships were available, but all were worthy musicians," says a spokesman.

Winning first place was Union Pines High School saxophonist Lucas Arno, who played "Chanson et Passepied" by Jeanine Rueff, accompanied by Susan Ward. Arno, the son of Alice Ormston and Doug Arno, won a $1,500 scholarship. He is a senior at Union Pines High School, and his band director is Robert Hill.

Kristin Terry, a senior soprano at Union Pines High School, won second place and an $800 scholarship. She played "Porgi, amor" from "The Marriage of Figaro" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, accompanied by MariJo Brown. Terry is the daughter of Evelyn and William Terry, and her chorus director is Cathy McCanless.

Third place and a $700 scholarship were awarded to violist Ryan Walsh, a senior at Pinecrest High School. He played the second movement of Georg Phillip Telemann's "Concerto in G Major," and was accompanied by Darlene Skinner. His parents are Beverly and Kelly Walsh, and his orchestra director is Lindsay Leach.

The other outstanding student musicians selected to represent their schools at this year's event were North Moore High School's Britn Hackett (soprano) and Kaylie Morgan (flute); Pinecrest High School's Chris Greco (trumpet) and Brenton O'Hara (bass); and Union Pines High School's Holly Ring (violin).

Jim Dawson presided as master of ceremonies during the festival, and the judges were Benny Edwards, David Seiberling, and Valerie Stancik. While the judges deliberated on the winners, entertainment was provided by Bows & Bellows, which featured Michael Jones on violin and Cathy McCanless on accordion. Jones and McCanless teach orchestra and chorus, respectively, at Union Pines High School.

The Picquet Music Festival began in 1946 and was named for Charles Picquet, then owner and manager of the local movie theater in Pinehurst. The festival has evolved from a songfest into a formal scholarship competition for individual high school musicians nominated by their teachers.

With over 150 members, the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills annually raises over $40,000 that it uses to fund numerous scholarships and projects to enhance life in the Sandhills, with a primary focus on children. For additional information, visit www.sandhillskiwanis.org.