Music students Allison Siekmann and Anna Kellam are benefitting from scholarships created in memory of distinguished Case Western Reserve University alumni Pasquale “Pat” Ciricillo ADL’29 and Jody Sandhaus WRC’73.

Allison Siekmann received the Pat Ciricillo Music Education Scholarship established by Pat’s children, Robert and Patricia. Allison is a first-year music education major from Cincinnati, OH. She hopes to follow Mr. Ciricillo’s example and use music to aid the personal development of students.

Pasquale “Pat” Ciricillo, ADL ’29

Pat Ciricillo was born in Cleveland’s “Little Italy.” At age 7 he was featured in the band of his father, Salvatore Ciricillo as the “Little Mellophone Wonder.” After high school, Pat pursued a career as a professional trumpet player while earning his Bachelor of Arts at Western Reserve University. Upon graduation, he moved to New York where he earned graduate degrees from Columbia University in musicology and music education while continuing to play his horn. A close friendship with the legendary jazz cornet player Bix Beiderbecke facilitated introductions to some of the country’s most popular jazz musicians, and Pat played with a number of top jazz bands including Paul Whiteman, The Dorsey Brothers, Rudy Vallee, Vincent Lopez, and Artie Shaw.

As a classical musician, Pat played with the NBC Symphony under the direction of Arturo Toscanini and the Voice of Firestone Orchestra. In 1957, Pat became a full-time music educator in the Rockland County (New York) Public School System, where he developed an elementary school band and taught for 19 years.

Jody Sandhaus, WRC ’73

Anna Kellam received the Jody Sandhaus Scholarship established by David Firestein and their children, Guss and Hayes. Anna is a second-year music major from Savannah, GA studying vocal music.

Jody Sandhaus was a prominent vocalist in the New York jazz scene. She studied piano as a child, and her interest in music continued while earning her BA in humanities at CWRU. After graduation, Jody spent time in St. Martin in the West Indies where she pursued vocal jazz music before moving back to New York City to study with vocal coach Marie Traficante. Sandhaus recorded a number of solo albums including Winter Moon (1997), I Think of You (2000), A Fine Spring Morning (2004), and Afterglow (2009). Referring to Jody Sandhaus, the website All About Jazz declares “Every now and again a singer comes along who so personally delivers a song that we are ourselves moved to feel more deeply–to appreciate life more fully, in all its joy and pain; and to see things as she sees them, as facets of the wonderful gift that is life.”

Make a donation in support of scholarships

Scholarships are the difference maker for many students when determining where to attend college. In 2017, CWRU committed to meeting students’ full need when providing financial aid packages. Your donation in support of scholarships makes a direct impact on the lives of our students every day. 

There are 3 ways to give:

Shared Scholarship Fund
Any amount can be given to the Shared Scholarship Fund. Donations collectively provide tuition relief for incoming students the following academic year. To make a gift online visit: artsci.case.edu/casgiving. Write ‘CAS Shared Scholarship Fund’ in the special instructions text-box in order to support students in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Partial & Full Term Scholarships
Make an immediate impact with a named commitment from $25,000-$200,000 that will cover part or all of an undergraduate student’s tuition for four years. There are many ways to make a planned gift including, by bequest, IRA Rollover, charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder unitrust, charitable remainder annuity trust, charitable lead trust and more. To learn more about your planned giving options, such as the potential tax benefits or the opportunities to support a cause about which you are passionate, contact Jerry Smith, Director of National Giving | 216.368.2487 | jerold.smith@cwru.edu.

Endowed Scholarship Fund
A gift of $1,000,000 or more permanently endows a scholarship fund that will support one student in your name per year in perpetuity. There are many ways to make a planned gift including, by bequest, IRA Rollover, charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder unitrust, charitable remainder annuity trust, charitable lead trust and more. To learn more about your planned giving options, such as the potential tax benefits or the opportunities to support a cause about which you are passionate, contact Jerry Smith, Director of National Giving | 216.368.2487 | jerold.smith@cwru.edu.