2014 Outstanding Achievement Awards
Garden City High School
Alexander Della Ratta
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Alex Della Ratta began playing the euphonium in Stratford School and switched to the tuba in middle school. In high school, he joined every music program he could and began doubling on bass trombone. He has played with All County bands and orchestras, All State bands and the All Eastern Band. Alex is an alumnus of Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York and has substituted on tuba for the West Islip Symphony Orchestra. He has performed at many venues including the Tilles Center, the Eastman School of Music, The Crane School of Music, The Bushnell Center, several local universities and Carnegie Hall. He especially enjoys playing in assisted living residences with Playback Long Island, a student led chamber group. Currently, Alex studies tuba with Chanell Crichlow, of the PitchBlak Brass Band, and works as a music intern at the USDAN Center. He will attend Hofstra University as a Music Education major. Alex is grateful to his music teachers for inspiring in him a profound enjoyment of music.
Teresa Pietromonaco
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Teresa Pietromonaco began playing violin at the age of three at the Suzuki Program under the direction of Nicole DiCecco. She also began playing piano at the age of five at the same school. She has actively participated in the Long Island String Festival, All-County, All-State and NYSSMA festivals. She was a member of the New York Young Musicians Orchestra, which toured Greece in the summer of 2009. She has been concert mistress this year of the Garden City High School Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Gullotta. In the fall, Teresa will be attending the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam for music education and performance.
Daniel McElroy
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Daniel McElroy, a senior, is honored to have received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Vocal Music. Dan has enjoyed roles in the High School’s productions of The Importance of Being Earnest (Lane), The Sound of Music (Max), Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), The Pajama Game (Mr. Hasler), Almost, Maine (East & Lendall), and Legally Blonde (Warner) also having served as a Production Assistant for Brighton Beach Memoirs. He’s honored to have served as President of Masquers, a board member of the International Thespian Society, and a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society (Modern Music Masters), Chamber Choir, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Dan has participated in the NYSSMA festival and All County Choruses since his sophomore year. Dan is grateful for his recognition and wishes to thank his mentors at the High School, with special thanks to Mr. Ludwig and Mr. Mayo, as well as his vocal teacher of three years Hope Hudson.
Garden City Middle School
Cate Schick
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Cate Schick’s musical background began in second grade when she started piano lessons. She enjoyed the creativity that music provided and started playing the euphonium at Stratford. In sixth grade at the GCMS, Cate continued the euphonium with the band and joined the Late Night Jazz as a pianist with her older brother. He played trombone in the LNJ and helped Cate learn how to play. She has since played both instruments for the LNJ for three years. For the past two years, Cate participated in NYSSMA on the euphonium and was selected twice for All County band. This past year she earned first chair honors. Cate will continue her musical career at the GCHS playing trombone for the Wind Symphony.
Connor Cowie
Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music
Connor Cowie has been playing piano for 3 years. Connor was enrolled in Mr. Russo’s Electronic Music class throughout middle school. During all three years, Connor participated in the NYSSMA festivals and have always received perfect scores. Connor enjoys playing on stage and working with other musicians at the Beyond Rock music camp. He is currently studying classical piano pieces by Debussy and Beethoven as well as pieces from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impressionist Eras. In 8th grade, Connor Cowie received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Electronic Music. Connor looks forward to pursuing his interests at the Garden City High School.
Philip Acinapuro
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Philip Acinapuro began his interest with the upright bass in the third grade orchestra at Stratford. At the GCMS he has been in the orchestra and Late Night Jazz Band for 3 years and this year joined the 8th Grade Band. He has participated in the NYSSMA Festival, played in the Long Island String Festival and All-County Jazz Band. He won for the Best Soloist in the Music in the Parks in 2013 and 2014. Philip is currently a bass guitarist in a Jimi Hendrix tribute band, plays guitar and drums, and writes and records his own music. His inspirations are his Uncle Craig, his music teacher Jimi Durso, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. He will be attending the Beyond Rock Program this summer.
Liam Dougherty
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Liam Dougherty, an 8th grader at the Middle School, has received the Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music Award. Past musical accomplishments include every school musical since the fifth grade. In Wizard of Oz, fifth grade, Liam played The Scarecrow. Ever since then he has been an overweight King in Cinderella, Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, and most recently, Daddy Warbucks in Annie. Liam has also been successful throughout his NYSSMA career starting in sixth grade. Liam has gone to All County Vocal twice and he is currently waiting to see if he’ll go next year as well.
Stephen Iovino
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Stephen Iovino began his musical journey at the age of eight, taking piano and singing lessons at the Music Academy of Garden City. Stephen participated in the NYSSMA Festival for the last five years, and each year he received a very high score. As a result, he took part in All-County Chorus for four years. In middle school, Stephen took chorus and guitar lessons from Mrs. Menges. In the Garden City Middle School musical, Stephen received a lead role every year: The Prince in Cinderella, Hugo Peabody in Bye Bye Birdie, and Rooster in Annie. Most recently, Stephen received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music at the middle school. Stephen has already been accepted into the Chamber Choir, an elite chorus at the Garden City High School, for his freshman year.
Stewart School
Katie Lew
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Katie Lew started taking piano lessons at age 8. In the fourth grade she began playing the flute at Stewart. Katie was selected to perform at The All County Music Festival this past January. She has also enjoyed being part of Stewart’s Jazz Band. Katie received perfect scores on her Level II Piano and Level III Flute NYSSMA exams. She was chosen The Music Academy of Garden City’s Multi-Instrumentalist of the year. Katie studies flute with instructor Benny Reid who challenges her with each lesson. She looks forward to joining the Middle School Band next year and continuing her passion for the flute for many years to come.
Micah Bozkurtian
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Micah Bozkurtian, a 5th grade student at Stewart School, is proud to receive the Friends of Music Award for Outstanding Achievements in Orchestra. He has played the piano and violin since 2nd grade. He was the principal violinist in the Stewart Orchestra this past year and sat for two NYSSMA exams – piano and violin. He was selected for both the All-County Orchestra and Long Island String Festival. In addition to music, Micah enjoys soccer, tennis, volleyball and fishing.
Juliana Santel
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Juliana Santel loves to sing and participated in the 2014 Long Island All County Chorus as well as the Stewart School select chorus. She successfully performed a level 3 NYSSMA song in both fourth and fifth grade. Juliana enjoys the theatre and played the key role of Musetta in the Stewart School’s production of La bohème this winter and has been studying the violin since the 2nd grade. Juliana is not only a talented singer and musician but an avid gymnast and plays both travel soccer and lacrosse. Juliana credits her success to Mrs. Grace, Mr. Albani and her teachers at the Garden City Music Academy. She will continue her musical pursuits at the Middle School.
Stratford School
Colin McGovern
Outstanding Achievement in Band
My name is Colin McGovern. I am a fifth grader at Stratford School moving on to the Garden City Middle School. I enjoy lots of activities: Lacrosse, Soccer, Basketball but I PLAY the trombone. I began playing the trombone in the third grade at Stratford School. I was inspired to play that instrument because I thought it was just fascinating. My favorite style of music to play is jazz. I belonged to the band and the jazz band at Stratford under Ms. Glickman. I am looking forward to playing in the band at Garden City Middle School.
Stephen Sirounian
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Stephen Sirounian began playing violin in the 3rd grade when he lived in Phoenix, AZ. His music teacher there introduced him to the instrument and instilled a love of playing. Stephen continued playing violin when he and his family moved to Garden City in the 4th grade and was further encouraged and supported by Mr. Albani. Because of his perfect NYSSMA score that year, he was invited to perform in the All County and LISFA orchestras in 5th grade. He looks forward to being a part of the middle school orchestra in the fall.
Sarah Fetherston
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Sarah Fetherston is honored to receive the Outstanding Achievement for Vocal Music Award. Sarah loves to sing and began taking singing lessons at the age of seven. Sarah’s love of singing led her to the stage where she has performed in numerous productions. Some of Sarah’s favorite roles have been Glinda in Wicked and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. This year, Sarah played the title role of Annie in The Broad Hollow Theatre Company’s production of Annie. Most recently, Sarah had the lead part of Baloo in the Stratford School play, The Jungle Book. Sarah had a perfect NYSSMA score and will continue her vocal studies at The Music Academy of Garden City where she was Musician of the Month in January. Sarah looks forward to entering the Middle School where she will continue to sing and perform.
