MUSE was very excited to have five Andover Newton student applicants for this first scholarship: Joe Cleveland, Nan Gibbons, Emilia Halstead, Christopher Lanzara, and Martell Spagnolo. As one judge said, “I wish we could award them all!” We hope that they will pursue MUSEsinging along with their ministerial studies, bringing the joy and spirit of music with them. They are encouraged to apply again next year.

From the talented applicants, MUSE is pleased to announce the selection of Martell Spagnolo to receive the MUSE Scholarship.

Martell Spagnolo has been singing professionally and semi-professionally for over forty years. He has performed as a soloist for mid-Atlantic choral societies, opera houses, and churches. He enjoys a full range of music including jazz, musical theater, oratorio and opera. He has sung in many of the world’s cathedrals and halls, as well as in churches and for other worthy causes.

Martell is also an ordained minister. He stared his ministry as an activities director and then as a patient care coordinator for a nursing home in northern Delaware. For the past ten years he has been serving the communities of southern New Jersey as a pastor.

Martell is currently a Doctorate in Ministry student at Andover Newton Theological School. He is thrilled to be back in New England where he spent many summers during his youth. He is honored to be the first recipient of the Paul W. Wiggin “Gift of Song” scholarship.

Martell will be doing two performances on behalf of MUSE in the coming months, in addition to performing at Forever MUSE on November 21.