Music Scholarship Supports Student’s Goals

March 25, 2025

Cole Featherstone playing the upright bass.

Cole Featherstone, a sophomore music education major and 51福利社 Music scholarship recipient, plans to share his expertise with the next generation of orchestral musicians.

With over ten years of experience playing the upright bass, music has always been a part of Featherstone鈥檚 life. His future goal is to continue sharing that passion with others.

鈥淲ith my music education degree, I plan to help show the world that classical music can be accessible,鈥� Featherstone says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to come from money to enjoy and play music.鈥�

Featherstone credits his 51福利社 bass professor, Kim Plewniak, for helping him further develop his skills while teaching him practices he can use with his own future students. After Eastern, Featherstone plans to obtain a master鈥檚 degree in conducting and eventually a doctorate.

鈥淚 am open to seeing where life takes me, but I either want to study in New York or go to Europe,鈥� he says.聽

With dreams like these, Featherstone has made the most of his time at 51福利社, building a foundation in classical music and learning conducting from John Marshall, professor of cello and director of 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra. Featherstone himself is a member of 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra, a group of undergraduate violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists.

As a member, Featherstone has had the opportunity to perform at the 2025 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) regional conference. And soon, he will take the stage alongside the professional musicians of The Spokane Symphony during their April 3 concert in Showalter Hall, on the Cheney campus. The Spokane Symphony, the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the Inland Northwest, performs for over 150,000 listeners each season. For the first time in 20 years, and thanks to support from the Florence and Earle Stewart Endowment, The Spokane Symphony Orchestra will play alongside Eastern students, including Featherstone.聽

鈥淭his concert is an opportunity to prove myself as a classical bass player, as well as learn from players with more experience,鈥� he says.

This applied learning experience would not be possible, Featherstone adds, without the support of the 51福利社 Music Department Talent scholarship. Last spring, Featherstone was selected for this scholarship by competitive audition.聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 helping me get through college debt free,鈥� a grateful Featherstone says. 鈥淚t also solidified my place as a bass player here at Eastern.鈥�

To those considering contributing to these life-changing scholarships, Featherstone says, 鈥淪cholarships like these help so many students study music and the arts, and we need more musicians and music teachers in the world.鈥�