Solis Dornan 2-Time Tuesday Musical Winner

Akron, Ohio’s annual scholarship competition sponsored by Tuesday Musical offers a highly coveted award, larger than most guitar competitions in the country. Open only to musicians studying in Ohio, it is a natural annual destination for my students. Oberlin student, Solis Dornan won the Guitar Award last year as a sophomore ($2,000) and won it again this year as a junior (another $2,000), plus this year, he also won Second Prize in the all-around finals (add on another $1,000). The way Tuesday Musical organizes the event, with individual instrument contests in March, and a finals in May, with the winners of each category competing for a grand prize (and an “audience” prize), makes it an exciting, semester-long event.

Here is Solis performing in the 2025 Tuesday Music Final, May 4; the entire event takes place at The University of Akron, my old “stomping grounds”, so being there brings back memories!

Solis Dornan on the Guzzetta Hall stage

This is Solis as Guitar Winner, March 21 this year; (sorry no “winner’s” photo from 2025).

Solis Dornan, with Guitar Adjudicator, Bryan Reichert

Here he is on stage in Guzzetta Hall again, competing for the Grand Prize against all the other instrument winners. He played a Prelude by Rodrigo and the Prelude to Bach’s Suite BWV 1006a:

And here is the organization’s announcement of the winners:

We are proud that all three are either Oberlin students or recent Oberlin alums.

Congratulations Solis, on these impressive wins!!