Tara Gladden Scholarship Fund
“In 1993, my 15-year-old cousin, Tara, was taken from us by a 30-year-old man who made her feel beautiful. He preyed on her insecurities and he groomed her to trust him. When she finally told her parents about him, he took her life.
This was around the time that I was starting my studio and I vowed to do everything I could do to never let a young girl feel less than enough.
I can’t save the world…I know that. But if I can make my girls feel confident in their own abilities, if I can help them to believe in themselves and remind them that they are strong…then I will have done a tiny thing to honor Tara.
Tara Gladden. Remember her name.
To all the young girls in my life:
Know your strength. Know your power. Know your potential and don’t ever let anyone make you believe that you need them to feel worthy. You are enough. You are MORE than enough.”
– Robin Snyder-Wiencek
In celebration of Tara’s life, the Wiencek family has created the Tara Gladden Scholarship Fund. We will honor Tara’s memory by helping young artists continue their journey and realize their potential.
To learn more about the scholarship awards, please see the attached documents.
Tara Gladden Scholarship Recipients
Past recipients of the Tara Gladden Scholarship:
2020 – Milana Schectman
2021 – Brianna Copp, Moriah Douglas
2022 – Emma Cummings, Karina Cebelis
2023 – Izzy Ryan, Grace Zieglar
2024 – Olivia Fitzpatrick, Emmaline Freeburger
2025 – Maggie Black and Nessa Marks
Corinne graduated with honors at The Baptist College of Florida with a Bachelor of Music Education in the Spring of 2022. As a child, she studied music, dance, art, and gymnastics at EMC and is very excited to return to the music academy as an instructor!
Maddie is a senior at Susquehannock High School and started her performing arts journey just last year. Before then, her focus was basketball starting at the age of 5 and playing through her freshman year. After discovering her passion for theater, she began taking vocal lessons at EMC in March of 2021. Maddie was also a member of show choir and theater dance. She has been in both musical productions of Annie Jr. and Aladdin Jr. at EMC. At school, Maddie participated in both band and choir and is looking forward to joining her school’s theater program.
Hayden grew up around music, becoming a very versatile performer. His study began at age 6, taking drum lessons with his father James McGarvey. Currently a freshman at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Hayden studies classical percussion with Don Liuzzi of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Robert van Sice, and Eric Millstein. With these teachers, he studies timpani, snare drum, marimba, xylophone, hand drums and multi-percussion. Other disciplines he is learning at Curtis include piano, music theory, music history, ear training, singing and chamber music. While attending Susquehannock High School, Hayden became a very successful percussionist for PMEA honors groups. On top of numerous district and regional festivals, he performed two years in the PMEA state orchestra, as well as one year in the National All-Eastern Wind Ensemble. During High School he performed with the jazz band, pep band, marching band, orchestra, and wind ensemble. Hayden also attended the renowned Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in 2019 where he played as principal percussionist in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to classical percussion, Hayden is well versed in drum set playing, previously studying with his father and Tench Tillman. He currently studies drum set with John Riley of the Manhattan School of Music, and has played in various settings such as jazz combos, jazz big bands, rock bands, duos and recording sessions. Hayden can be heard on Brendan Wiencek’s debut album Endless Bonds, as well as his latest single, Second Base. Hayden is very excited to pass on his knowledge and passion for music to his students at EMC.
Emily Runkle
Carly Faye After dancing professionally and teaching in NYC for 10 years, Carly Faye has returned to her hometown of Baltimore, MD. She has been training dancers in Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Street Jazz, Tap and Ballet for over 15 years. She firmly believes dance is for every BODY, and wants to instill a love of movement in all of her students. She believes in process over product, and hopes all of her students learn to love hard work. Carly Faye has also served as an Adjudicator and Master Teacher with Starquest International, Spotlight Dance Cup, and Impact Dance Adjudicators. Carly Faye, with her sister Hannah Mae, currently co-hosts, “Count Me In: A Dance and Education Podcast” where they discuss dance, education, and so much more. They have in depth conversations with working artists, educators, writers, producers, from all over the world about their experience in dance and education. She finds this platform to be the perfect opportunity to continue to educate herself and others on the dance world, teaching strategies, and the importance of arts education. The podcast has proven to make her a better educator and human.
