Lesson Scholarship Program
One City Announces New Lesson Scholarship Program for String Students Honoring Sister Mary Ricardo DiSanto, C.S.J.
One City, a community initiative of VanderCook College of Music, is proud to announce the launch of the One City Lesson Scholarship Program, a new initiative that expands musical access for young musicians across Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Made possible through a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the scholarship will be dedicated in honor of Sister Mary Ricardo DiSanto, C.S.J., a revered music educator whose lifelong commitment to teaching has inspired generations of students. The inaugural year of the program will support 20 students from the One City String Program, providing fully funded, one-on-one private lessons during the Spring 2026 semester. Students will be selected based on financial need and/or musical merit, ensuring that talent and dedication are nurtured regardless of economic barriers.
Honoring a Legacy of Musical Education
Sister Mary Ricardo DiSanto, C.S.J. (1931–2024), devoted 74 years to religious life and a lifetime to music education. A gifted musician with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in music, Sister Ricardo taught at St. Barbara, St. Francis Xavier, Our Lady of Bethlehem, and Nazareth Academy, and shared her expertise in the Suzuki method at the C.S.J. School of Music.
Her influence endures through the countless lives she touched with her joyful commitment to music. The Lesson Scholarship established in her name will continue her legacy by opening doors for young musicians and aspiring teachers alike.
Expanding Access, Enriching Community
The One City Lesson Scholarship takes aim at one of the most significant barriers to music education: equitable access to private instruction. By funding individual lessons for selected students based on financial need and/or musical merit, the program helps ensure that young musicians who demonstrate dedication and potential have the support needed to grow.
Each scholarship recipient will receive ten 30-minute private lessons, taught by One City Teaching Assistants or VanderCook undergraduate music education majors under faculty supervision. The program also plays a vital role in VanderCook’s lab school model, providing undergraduates with hands-on teaching experience in a supportive, real-world environment.
This dual-impact model not only benefits One City students through personalized instruction, but also provides essential experiential training for future music educators—strengthening the lab school relationship at the heart of VanderCook’s mission.