The Greater Des Moines Community Band (GDMCB) is pleased to announce that two individuals, Hope Clingan and Isabelle Ryan, have been named the 2026 winners of the Vic Anderson Legacy Music Scholarship.
Hope Clingan is a rising junior at Urbandale High School. A dedicated and accomplished trombonist, she has spent the past five years honing her craft, studying privately with Paul Lichty, and building a strong foundation in both technique and musical expression. At Urbandale, Hope is an active and valued member of the concert band, jazz band, and marching band programs. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her consistent superior ratings at solo and ensemble festival, as well as her recognition as an annual letter winner in band.
Beyond her achievements, Hope is known for her genuine passion for band and her desire to share music with others. She approaches each performance as an opportunity to connect, inspire, and contribute to something larger than herself—qualities that embody the spirit of the Vic Anderson Legacy Scholarship.
Isabelle Ryan is a rising junior at Johnston High School and an accomplished and multi-faceted musician. She is actively involved in her school’s concert band, marching band, choir, and show choir programs, and has further cultivated her musicianship through summer study, including camps at Wartburg College and the University of Missouri.
A dedicated French horn player for six years and pianist for nine, Isabelle has earned significant recognition for her musicianship. As a horn player, she was selected for the Iowa All-State Band as a sophomore and has participated in both the Drake University and SCIBA Honor Bands. Isabelle also has received numerous superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble Festival, including “Best of Center” honors in spring 2026 for her horn solo, horn duet, and vocal solo.
In addition to her achievements on horn, Isabelle is an accomplished pianist who has earned multiple awards from the Iowa Music Teachers Association.
Isabelle’s love of music is evident not only in her accomplishments but in her desire to share it with others, bringing enthusiasm, dedication, and artistry to every ensemble and performance.
The Greater Des Moines Community Band offers scholarships to secondary school students wanting to further their musical studies while in high school. Scholarship dollars are to be used for private lessons, music, etc. Recommendations can be made by any band member or band director of a deserving student. Scholarship winners will have the opportunity to play with the band if desired.