Elizabeth Hamilton, a 2008 graduate of Oxford Area High School who is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Ohio State University, is organizing a concert to benefit the Laura Pattinson Scholarship Fund. The concert will take place on Wednesday, July 29 at 7 p.m. at the Oxford Presbyterian Church.

“I have not been back for an extended period of time since [graduating], and I am excited to share my love of music with the Oxford community,” Hamilton explained. “I knew I wanted to have a concert, and the Pattinson Memorial Scholarship seemed like the perfect way to give back to the community that helped me become the musician I am today.”

Hamilton will be joined by two local musicians, Julia Farber and John Gilmour, to perform an entertaining variety of flute music at the concert. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Laura Pattinson Scholarship Fund, which was established in memory of Oxford Area High School student Laura Pattinson. She was a band student, and her family created the scholarship to help Oxford students pursue college degrees in music.

Hamilton is currently pursuing a masters degree of music in flute performance at Ohio State University, where she studies with Allison Sincoff. Hamilton earned an undergraduate degree in music education from Ithaca College, where she studied with Suzuki instructor Elizabeth Shuhan. Hamilton was a recipient of the Laura Pattinson Scholarship from 2008 to 2012.

“The scholarship is so important for aspiring musicians who need a financial boost during their years in school,” Hamilton said. “There are a lot of additional costs that are unexpected and difficult to prepare for when first going into the music field.” She used the scholarship money to pay for music, flute repairs, books, accompanist fees and it even helped her purchase a piccolo.

Since graduating from Oxford, Hamilton has achieved a great deal of success in both local and national competitions. She won first prize in Ohio University’s 2014 Concerto Competition, first prize in the 2015 Delta Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition Woodwind Division, and second place in the 2015 Lima Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition. She has also been a finalist in a number of other competitions including the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey Young Artists Competition, the Rochester Flute Association Young Artists Competition, the Pocono Flute Society Young Artist Competition, the Pearl and Julius Young Artist Concerto Competition, and the Ithaca College Concerto Competition. Additionally, she was awarded the National Federation of Music Club’s Ernest A Bluhm Flute Award in March of 2015. In April, she was the third prize winner in the Central Ohio Flute Association’s Emerging YoungArtist Competition. In the fall semester of the 2015-2016 academic year, Elizabeth will perform Carl Nielsen’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra with the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra.

Hamilton said that the upcoming concert is free to the public and open to all ages.