Ashlee Sung

The 2022-2023 recipient of the Roman Andrew Borek Endowed Scholarship is 16-year-old violinist, Ashlee Sung. Ashlee currently studies violin with Sharon Harman and takes advanced music theory classes with Dr. Ruby Wang. This past summer she participated in PCM’s Chamber Music Intensive.

Last year, Ashlee created and launched a website called “Music Mental Health” that aims to address and explore how music can help with anxiety and other mental health issues, earning her a Girl Scout Gold Award. You can read more about her website in her blogpost from December 2021. Ashlee has won a number of competitions and is the assistant concertmaster of the PYSO Philharmonic. She has been a PCM student since 2019.

Ashlee excels in her musical studies and embodies the spirit of dedication through her commitment to helping others: tutoring other students, performing in home care facilities, and building a website where students can find mental health resources through music. PCM and The Fine Arts Club are delighted to recognize Ashlee’s accomplishments by awarding her the 2022-2023 Roman Andrew Borek Endowed Scholarship.

The Roman Andrew Borek Endowed Scholarship

The Roman Andrew Borek Endowed Scholarship is an annual award funded by The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena. Each year, PCM selects the recipient – a Junior or Senior high school student playing at a high level – for the scholarship, which will cover a portion of their annual tuition.

The scholarship was introduced in 2021 in tribute to Roman Borek (September 10, 1939 – December 9, 2019), one of PCM’s unsung heroes. Roman was an important behind-the-scenes volunteer for PCM for more than twenty years. He served on the PCM Advisory Council, became a trusted friend to the administration and an invaluable volunteer, helping to facilitate countless PCM performances in private homes (Mansions and Music concerts) and other off-campus performances.

Roman was always incredibly generous with his time and resources. He was a member, officer and/or board member/Director for the following organizations: The Fine Art Club of Pasadena, MacDowell Club of Allied Arts, Gamble House, Pasadena Arts Council, English Speaking Union, Tournament of Roses, and Tanglewood Music Festival.

The Fine Arts Club

For over a century, the Fine Arts Club of Pasadena has been dedicated to supporting the arts and artists by encouraging the creation, execution, and appreciation of work in all branches of the fine arts. Their mission is grounded in the belief that the arts are vital to our culture and that artists deserve our support.

The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena aims to enrich the cultural life of Pasadena and to encourage the unique individual expression of each artist. To accomplish this mission, they provide a venue for artists to perform and exhibit their work, and provide awards to outstanding students in arts programs at local colleges and universities.