2007 Outstanding Achievement Awards

Garden City High School

Melanie Wegener

Outstanding Achievement In Band

Melanie Wegener began private piano lessons at age 6, and private clarinet lessons at age 13 at the Long Island Conservatory of Music. She has achieved NYSSMA top Levels and scores for piano and clarinet and has performed in multiple all Counties at Tillis Center.

She is currently, one of the principal clarinet players in the High School Wind Ensemble, Section Leader for Clarinet in the Marching Band and pianist for the High School Jazz Ensemble. She has played clarinet and keyboard in the Pit Orchestra for several high school musical productions. She is a member of the Modern Music Masters Honor Society and the recipient of the 2007 Barry Manilow Music Faculty Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship in Garden City High school.

In 2006, she played the bass clarinet in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and performed with them at Carnegie Hall. She has performed clarinet with the Long Island Conservatory of Music Chamber group at Carnegie Hall in 2005.

She has volunteered as a pianist for the annual TWIGS benefit and at a Senior Citizens Home. She has performed for many years as a pianist for the Friends of Music Student Showcases.

Melanie tutors clarinet, piano and bass clarinet. She is now attending Cornell Universityat the School of Arts and Sciences.

Sara Alfridi

Outstanding Achievement In Orchestra

The Alfridi family moved to the Village of Garden City when Sara was 8 years old. It was during 4 th grade at Stewart School that she held her very first violin. Sara took her lessons very seriously, practicing daily, and always eager to take on new musical challenges. She continued her studies throughout Middle School and was appointed the Assistant Concert Mistress of the orchestra from 6 th through 8 th grade. Although Sara did not have the opportunity to take formal, independent music lessons until 9 th grade, she preserved with her musical studies on her own. It was during her sophomore year that she entered NYSSMA at the highest level, earning a perfect score during her junior year. Sara continues her music lessons and performs as a soloist regularly at the Long Island Conservatory. She is now attending The Parsons New School for Design.

Ryan Torino

Outstanding Achievement In Vocal Music

Ryan, a baritone singer, will study vocal performance at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University in Bloomington where he received the IU Music Faculty Merit Scholarship, one of the highest awards. He thanks the Friends of Music for the vocal award, the high school teachers for the music faculty scholarship, and NYSCame scholarship. Ryan was selected as an All Eastern alternate, participated in All-State Chorus twice, and All-County Chorus for seven years.

He was the Chamber Chorus student director, a member of the vocal jazz ensemble, and TRI-M. Ryan played the French Horn in the wind ensemble, took AP music theory, and piano lessons. He performed in many plays including The Man Who Came to Dinner at the Roundabout Theatre, The Prince and the Pauper at Tilles Center, Oliver at Hofstra, and Law and Order on NBC. Recently, at the high school he played Grandpa Vanderhof in You Can’t Take it with You, Georg Nowak in She Loves Me , and Peter inThe Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Ryan was the youngest participant selected for a summer program, Rising Star Singers, in Rising Sun, Indiana., He attended the CraneMusic School at SUNY Potsdam and Eastern Music Camp at Colgate. He was a regional winner at the Classical Singer competition in NYC. He thanks Terence Goff, his voice teacher of seven years, and asks that the community continue to support music programs in our schools.

Garden City Middle School

Christine Pando

Outstanding Achievement in Band

Christine Pando began her musical training on the piano under the instruction of Mrs. Bambauch in second grade. She progressed to clarinet as a new member of the Stratford Band under the instruction of Mr. Paul Marino and the guidance of Mr. Frank Benvenuto. Christine began playing the saxophone while in Stratford and would perform with the jazz band. Christine was awarded the Charlotte Hagan Award when she completed Stratford School in June 2004.

She graduated to the Middle School under the mentorship of Mrs. Boonshaft. After trying the oboe for a short time, Christine was introduced to the bassoon which is her primary instrument. She receives private instruction from Mr. Jonathan Watkins. Christine is a member of the Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts Concert Band since September 2006. She joined the High School Marching Band in 8th grade and will continue as a member in the Garden City High School. She aspires to be a music teacher and conduct youth concert bands.

Shungo Kotani

Outstanding Achievement Electronic Music

Shungo Kotani came to the United States in the summer of 2004 bringing with him a love of music. While in Japan he started taking piano lessons when he was only five years old. As he was learning to speak English in the United States, he made friends through his love of classic rock music. In September 2005 Shungo began taking guitar lessons. He has performed in all of the Middle School talent shows starting in the spring of his first year, singing, playing the keyboard as well as guitar. He has since learned to play the blues, country music and classic rock. His band is called, “The Shungo Kotani Experience.” Shungo is attending Keio Academy of New York in Westchester and plans to continue his music education.

Jan Gong

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

Starting the piano at the age of four, Jan Gong has a long history with music. She completed piano NYSSMA level six in seventh grade with an “A+” score, and started cello at the age of nine. Jan performed cello NYSSMA level six, the highest level, both last year and this year and received two consecutive perfect scores. Jan has also performed in several different orchestras. She has been a section leader in school orchestra since fourth grade, and participated in the Orchestra for Talented Youth for two years. Jan has been a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York (MYO) since sixth grade. Currently she is the principle cellist in the Concert Orchestra of MYO and has performed in Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Centertwice. This year, she will be performing a solo part at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. In addition, Jan has represented Garden City in All-County three times and in the Long Island String Festival Association two times. She is also a well-rounded student; she was awarded the Carroll A. Smith Award for the highest academic achievement in the Middle School.

Victoria Furman

Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music

Victoria’s interest in music began when she sang in her church choir. Once in the Middle School she participated in Chorus and Festival Chorus as well as participating in NYSSMA performing, among others, “On My Own” from the broadway production ofLes Miserables . During the summer, Victoria will be continuing her vocal lessons and preparing to sing in NYSSMA while in the High School. She is looking forward to chorus and the many musical opportunities that will be available to her while in the High School. Victoria thanks Mrs. Nancy Kleeman, the Middle School Choral teacher, for her belief in Victoria’s abilities as a singer, and her support and inspiration.