Benjamin A. Getchell Music Scholarship and Hummingbird Garden

Benjamin A. Getchell

Music Scholarship & Memorial Hummingbird Garden

Please consider a donation to continue the legacy of music and beauty and to honor alumni Benjamin A. Getchell, 10/01/1998 - 04/22/2019, SMWS Class of 2017.

The Benjamin A. Getchell Music Scholarship is awarded annually to support students in the Shining Mountain Waldorf School music program with funds to strengthen and enhance their individual practice. Recipients of this award display a passion and connection to music. This scholarship was established to honor the memory of an exceptional student and alumni of Shining Mountain. Ben was an accomplished and talented violinist and lover of music.

Ben's beloved violin is loaned annually to a student who embodies Ben's passion for the violin and music. In third grade when Benjamin was choosing an instrument, he was adamant he had to play the violin. Ben was trained in Suzuki method and classical music but had a joy for playing epic movie scores such as "Harry Potter", "Star Wars", “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Last of the Mohicans”. As Ben matured his focus changed towards favorite fiddle tunes “Swallowtail Jig”, and “The Irish Washerwoman”. Ben loved to play anything at warp speed like “The Storm” by Yanni.

The Benjamin A. Getchell Memorial Hummingbird Garden Fund

The Hummingbird was Ben’s Animal Totem. His memorial plaque reads:

Hummingbird…

Joyful little brother

Nectar you crave!

All the sweetness

Of all the flowers

Is the love you gave.

Ben certainly gave all his love and joy to everyone he met. The theme of the Waldorf 100-year birthday celebration was The Pollinators, Hope for the Future to honor and protect the hummingbirds, butterflies, andbees. Please consider a donation to support beauty and protect the pollinators.