West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Announces 2025 Vaughan Fellows

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (1/22/2025) – Three high school students have been selected to serve as the 2025 Student Symphonic Fellows for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s (WVSO) Andrew and Amy Vaughan Fellowship Program.

Kaleigh Basham, a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School, Simeon Jett, a homeschool freshman from Elkview, and Julian Finn Smith, a sophomore that is homeschooled from Princeton were chosen as the 2025 Vaughan Fellows following an interview and audition process on January 17. These students will build upon their knowledge and mastery of music by sitting on stage alongside WVSO musicians during rehearsals and will conduct personal research about the music the WVSO performs. They will also meet Music Director Maurice Cohn, guest conductors, and renowned guest artists during the second half of the Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series.

To be an eligible finalist, applicants completed an application that included a personal essay explaining their interest in the program as well as their professional and academic goals and submitted at least two letters of recommendation.

Kayleigh Basham, flute, performs with the marching and concert band at Woodrow Wilson High School.  She is the principal flutist for The New River Symphony, the president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and was accepted in the Great American Marching band where she performed at the 2024 Macy’s Day Parade.  Kayleigh also plays saxophone for the school jazz band and participates in the back up band for the choir.  Most recently she received the honor of making second chair flute for the WV All-State Band.  Kaleigh also holds other leadership positions in her school and community with plans to study music education and performance,

Simeon Jett, piano, a freshman from Elkview, is a member of the WV Youth Symphony Orchestra and has studied for ten years.  Simeon shares his gifts of music with the local community by performing in church, nursing and retirement homes.  In addition to piano, Simeon also studies violin.  His goal is to further his musical education and learn more about the music business through this fellowship.

Julian Finn Smith, violin, a sophomore from Princeton, is a member of the WV Youth Symphony Orchestra. He served as concertmaster for the High School All State Orchestra as a freshman.  Finn’s local schools do not have a strings program, so in order to further his string education he is homeschooled to allow him to travel for educational purposes and to have time dedicated to his musical education.  He created a string quartet with other home school musicians and earned a superior rating for Solo and Ensemble Festival of WVMEA. Finn was also the winner of the American String Teacher’s Association solo competition in 2023.  His future goals are to continue to study music and to become a member of the WV Symphony Orchestra.

Other finalists were Jacob Groves, a freshman at Nicolas County High School and Bella Basham, a sophomore from Cabell Midland High School.

Sponsored by Dr. Andrew and Amy Vaughan of Charleston, this fellowship program began in 2002 to develop and encourage West Virginia high-school students to pursue careers as professional musicians, educators, composers or conductors.

This monitored and time-intensive training program for serious music students remains a unique program among orchestras throughout North America.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is West Virginia’s premier performing arts organization, presenting classical and pops concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 86th season, the WVSO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region by providing affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program.

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