Frank H. Kenan Scholarship

The Frank H. Kenan scholarship covers educational expenses and required fees for a UNCSA high school student from North Carolina, studying in the school of dance or music, who wishes to attend UNCSA as a college degree-seeking student.

Additionally, the recipient will have the following attributes:

• Has demonstrated excellence, imagination and originality, and great promise in both academic and arts course work.
• Has earned at least a 3.5 GPA in each set of UNCSA courses.

2026-27 Frank H. Kenan Scholar

Ryan Holland is a rising C3 clarinetist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, studying under Dr. Oskar Espina-Ruiz. He attended McDowell High School where he was first in his class before transferring to the high school program at UNCSA as a junior. He completed his high school diploma in the School of Music’s Clarinet Studio with a GPA of 3.85.

Prior to entering the School of the Arts, Holland was part of McDowell High School’s Marching Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble. During this time, he competed and performed in Western NC All-District Bands, NC All-District Orchestra, and NC All-State Band. His past honors also include performing with the 2021 ASBDA National Honor Band in St. Augustine, Florida, as well as the 2022 ASBDA National Honor Band in Denver, Colorado. Outside of school, Holland was the principal clarinetist in the 2021-22 Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra Season as well as the Bass Clarinetist of the 2022-23 Winston-Salem Youth Orchestra Season.

While attending UNCSA, Holland has performed with UNCSA’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, NuEnsemble, Chamber Winds, "Nutcracker" Orchestra, Composer Orchestra, and various chamber groups. Notable performances include performing three years in a row in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet, “Contrasts” by Béla Bartók, Die Fledermause by Johann Strauss Jr., and Zwei Konserstuck Op. 114 by Felix Mendelssohn with bassoon.

Ryan has also attended various summer festivals. In the summer of 2024, he performed with the Idaho Orchestral Institute to play as principal clarinetist for the piece "Mathis der Maler" by Paul Hindemith under the direction of Robert Franz. For the summer of 2025, he attended the International Chamber Music Academy of Ochenhausen, Germany. While in Ochsenhausen, he performed Märchenerzählungen by Robert Schumann and Beethoven’s Sextet in E-flat Major, Op. 71. During the summer of 2026, he will be traveling to Valdeblore, France for the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival.

Ryan Holland looks forward to obtaining his B.M. in Clarinet Performance under the direction of Dr. Espina-Ruiz as a Frank H. Kenan scholar.

Contact:
Erin Edge, Kenan Excellence Scholars Liaison
Phone: 336-726-6940
Fax: 336-770-3367