May 28, 2026
Congratulations to Chali Yang ’26, who has been awarded the prestigious Gustavus Premiere Music Scholarship from Gustavus Adolphus College, earning $25,000 annually—a total of $100,000 over four years—after a competitive audition process. The college awards just one scholarship of its kind each year, and this is the first time a MPA student has received the honor.
For Yang, this represents years of discipline, persistence, and artistic growth.
“I think this scholarship is really a validation of all the hours I’ve put into practicing my instrument over the years, and especially through this absolutely rigorous audition process,” Yang said. “I feel a sense of calm now that it’s all over, and I feel like all the time I put into it was really worth it.”
Yang said guidance from MPA music faculty, including Upper School band director Renae Wantock and Middle School band director Lukas Skrove, helped shape his approach during the audition process.
“Ms. Wantock and Mr. Skrove did emphasize that just getting through your pieces—making sure you don’t rush— it was a major thing,” he said.
Yang began playing alto saxophone in sixth grade, shortly before enrolling at MPA in seventh grade. What started as a casual interest soon transformed into a deeper pursuit.
“When I came to MPA during seventh grade, it was a very big change in atmosphere,” Yang said. “Instead of just playing, it became playing to get better.”
He credits the school’s arts program and mentorship from Wantock for helping him discover both joy and purpose in music.
“It was due to MPA’s influence and Ms. Wantock’s guidance that I decided, ‘Wow, this is fun,’” he said.
Wantock said Yang’s achievement reflects a willingness to embrace hard work and challenge himself. She described Yang as a student who consistently sought growth, spending countless hours practicing independently, tackling difficult repertoire, and studying performances to refine his craft.
“He set his mind on, ‘I’m going to work really hard. I’m going to get good at this. I want to be good at this,’ and then followed through,” Wantock said.
Wantock, who has taught music for 34 years, said Yang is the first student in her career to receive a scholarship of this magnitude.
“It’s huge,” she said. “When you’ve got a school with a good music program like Gustavus, and they only give out one of these, for Chali to earn it through his own hard work is incredible.”
She said Yang’s development also reflects the strength of MPA’s arts curriculum and individualized instruction model, which allows students to grow at their own pace while being encouraged to pursue ambitious goals.
“We talk about differentiated learning all the time in education circles, and I think we do that in music better than almost anybody else,” Wantock said. “Our lesson program allows me to work with a student exactly where they’re at and help them move at the pace they are both able to and willing to move at.”
Yang’s musical growth accelerated during his sophomore and junior years, Wantock said, when he earned spots in both the Minnesota All-State Choir and All-State Band. Those experiences, combined with his commitment to practice and performance, elevated both his technical skill and artistic interpretation.
“I saw him grow not just technically, but in how he understands phrasing and musicianship,” Wantock said. “He really dove in.”
The achievement reflects a broader commitment at MPA to academic rigor with purpose—encouraging students to pursue excellence while developing passion, resilience, and creativity through the arts.
For Yang, the scholarship is both recognition of the work already completed and motivation for what comes next. Congratulations again to Chali!
