2016 Outstanding Achievement Awards
Garden City Friends of Music’s mission is to support music education and encourage the development of music skills in our children. Our annual membership drive and fundraisers enable us to make grants to Garden City schools to supplement and enhance the music programs. In addition to the Garden City Friends of Music scholarship award given to a graduating senior every year, students in fifth, eighth and twelfth grades are recognized for outstanding achievement in the categories of Band, Orchestra, Vocal Music and Electronic Music. This year there are 18 award winners. Award winner, Grace DeAngelo, Outstanding Achievement for Electronic Music is missing from the article.
Garden City High School
Michael Snyder
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Michael Snyder has had a keen interest in the clarinet since the fourth grade. In ninth grade, his first year auditioning for NYSSMA, Michael Snyder got a perfect score on the NYSSMA level 6 audition and an All-County distinction. In his two years auditioning for All-State, Michael earned two All-State Alternate distinctions and performed with the NYSBDA All-State Honor Band for Bb Clarinet, and earned the only perfect score in the state on Eb Clarinet, allowing him to perform with the All-State Wind Ensemble in his senior year. He has also performed with the Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony, a high level performing group, for two years. His inspirations include his private instructor Mindy Dragovich, conductors James McCrann and Joel Levi, and the historically famed clarinet virtuoso Johann Simon Hermstedt. Michael will be attending Cornell University this fall.
Robert Brosnan
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Robert Brosnan began playing violin in third grade and did not switch to viola until his sophomore year. He has been taking private lessons and has participated in summer programs for the past five years, most notably the New York State Summer School of the Arts School of Orchestral Studies in 2014 and 2015. At NYSSSA, he received coaching from members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and rehearsed for up to seven hours a day for four weeks. He has played in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra since ninth grade, and was principal viola from 2015-16 as well as principal of the Long Island String Festival 2015 and NMEA All County Symphony Orchestra 2016. Additionally, he was a violist for NYSSMA Conference All State Symphony Orchestra. He plans to continue playing viola in the future with the Penn Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra while studying engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
Olivia Coffey
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Olivia Coffey has been passionate about music and singing for as long as she can remember. At Garden City High School, Olivia was selected to be the Student Director of Chamber Choir this year and has been an active member of Tri-M and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Over her High School years, Olivia has performed in the musicals Mary Poppins, Once Upon A Mattress, and Legally Blonde, as well as several middle school productions, including: Aladdin, Oklahoma, and Cinderella. Olivia has performed in the NYSSMA festival for many years and was selected for the All County Chorus in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Olivia has taken weekly voice lessons for numerous years and attended the Summer Music Academy at Ithaca College. Additionally, she received second place in the NATS competition in New York City for musical theater in 2014. Olivia will continue to explore and expand her musicianship next year at the University of Richmond.
Garden City Middle School
Audra Fitzgerald
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Audra FitzGerald began her musical career in 4th grade while at Stewart School. Inspired by her older brother Liam, she started to play the trombone. At GCMS, she participated in both the Early Morning Jazz Band and Late Night Jazz Ensemble under the tutelage of Ms. Jennifer Iovino. She also played in the Middle School Band Program and received musical direction from Ms. Martha Boonshaft and Ms. Iovino. Audra has participated in NYSSMA since the inception of her musical career. She received the honor of being selected to play in the All County Band for three years, and this past year was chosen to be First Chair. Audra has begun studying with Kurt Ferguson, an accomplished musician. She looks forward to continuing her career as trombonist at GCHS in the Wind Symphony.
Riley Bauer
Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music
Riley Bauer’s music career officially started in Mr. Russo’s electronic music class in the 6th grade. He picked up a bass guitar and was hooked. He practiced and made it his mission to learn the instrument. Riley got pretty good at bass and wanted to learn guitar. His mom bought him a Squier Fender telecaster, which was the perfect guitar for him. He spent many hours trying to teach himself the instrument with the help of the great Mr. Russo. Riley eventually started to learn the piano so he could write better songs and began to love piano. “There is a certain magic about music that gets me every time. It’s the mixture of pure joy and the ability to express myself which is marvelous,” says Riley. He has played in front of about 600 people at a concert and it was spectacular. He is also very gracious that he was given the opportunity to conduct a classical guitar song at one of his school concerts. Riley wants to thank everyone that has helped him: Mr. Russo, Mrs. Menges, and Kevin Burke. As the great Jimi Hendrix once said, “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, it only can happen through music.”
Terese Castellano
Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music
Tess Castellano was thrilled to have won the Outstanding Achievement Award in Electronic Music. She started out playing the saxophone in 7th grade at the Middle School. She then joined Mr. Russo’s electronic music class is 8th grade experimenting with all of the different instruments offered. In her spare time she enjoys listening to music.
Celia Marciano
Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music
Celia Marciano has loved music since she was very little. In elementary school she played violin and piano and performed in two community theater musicals. But it was in Mr. Russo’s Electronic Music class at Garden City Middle School that Celia discovered her love of composition, songwriting and performing. When she attended Mr. Russo’s Beyond Rock Camp last summer, she was able to use what she had learned in his class to explore. Within a week, Celia and other campers formed a band, rehearsed and performed Bon Jovi and Fleetwood Mac songs to an audience of over 100. She was a singer and had a solo. “I loved Mr. Russo’s class because I had the freedom to explore my musical talents in any way I wanted. Mr. Russo taught me to believe in myself and told me I should consider a career in music.” Celia will continue to compose music at Sacred Heart Academy in the fall.
Allison McDonald
Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music
Allison McDonald is honored to be a recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award for Electronic Music. She has been in the Middle School Electronic Music program for three years, during which time she has written more than 30 original songs. This past year, she was in the school production of Grease as a Pink Lady. Allison has studied piano for several years. She previously attended the Beyond Rock Camp and did a solo and group performance on stage at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh. Allison will attend Garden City High School in September.
James Zheng
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
James Zheng is 14 years old and has been playing violin since 3rd grade starting out in the Stewart School orchestra. Once he entered 6th grade, he joined the Garden City Middle School orchestra. In addition to school orchestras, he has been selected to participate in various All County and LISFA festivals, and has received private tutoring. James did Level 6 NYSSMA both this year and last year, and received scores of 96 and 100, respectively. Last summer, he participated in the LIU Post Music Festival. He also enjoys playing the piano. This year, he received a 100 on his Level 6 piano NYSSMA, and was recommended to audition for the New York State Piano Showcase. He receives private piano lessons as well.
Alexandra Davidson
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Alex Davidson started her musical journey when she was in the fifth grade with her acceptance into All County and participating in the fifth grade Opera. It is here that she found her love for music. Alex’s vocal training began with The Garden City Music Academy, then with Dave Barrett and continues today with Katie Tauches. She owes special thanks to her GCMS Chorus teachers, Mrs. Menges and Ms. Conte. With their help and influence she has flourished. Alex has performed in her middle school shows taking on the roles of Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Marty in Grease. She has also performed in numerous shows at Cultural Arts Playhouse including Cossette in Les Miserable and The Bakers Wife in Into The Woods just to name a few. Alex has been in All County and NYSSMA for four consecutive years and is in her second year with MYO (Metropolitan Youth Orchestra) currently in their Nassau Symphonic Choir. She has trained at The Broadway Workshop in NYC and continues with musical theater classes at Cultural Arts Playhouse. Her focus and dedication has allowed her to achieve the many goals she has set for herself. Alex would like to thank The Garden City Friends of Music for awarding her the Outstanding Achievement Award for Vocal Music.
Alexandra Kucich
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Alexandra Kucich began to fall in love with musical theatre at the tender age of four. She continues to cultivate her voice by training with Dr. Eugenia Seo, a Julliard alumnus, and by performing in regional musical theatre as well as school productions; most recently as “Mrs. Meers” in Thoroughly Modern Millie and “Rizzo” in Grease. Having completed Level VI in NYSSMA two years ahead of schedule, and with her love of opera, she enjoys pushing her voice to new heights. She also regards her time with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra as an amazing learning experience. Alexandra is humbled to have been honored twice with the Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music and would like to thank the GC Friends of Music and her chorus teachers, Nancy Menges and Amanda Conte for their amazing support and encouragement.
Stewart School
Emma Heath
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Emma Heath, a 5th grader from Steward School was honored to receive the Friends of Music Award for Outstanding Achievement in Band. At six years old, Emma began to study piano at the Music Academy of Garden City. In fourth grade, she began to play the flute in the 4th grade band at Stewart School under the direction of Mr. Toomey. This past spring, Emma completed NYSSMA level 3 for the flute. She also plays the ukulele and was awarded the Music Academy of Garden City Multi- Instrumentalist Award in 2015 for flute and ukulele. Emma is looking forward to playing the flute for the Garden City Middle School Band.
Ana Bucevic
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Ana Bucevic has been interested in music since a young age. She started playing the violin at age eight. Even before that, she had taken piano and drum lessons at five years old. Ana also took Karnatic (South Indian) voice lessons at ages seven and eight. She was also interested in classical voice and took lessons at age nine. Ana looks forward to continuing her musical career in middle school.
Grace Flood
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Grace Flood, a recent graduate of Stewart School, finds great joy in music. She has taken private lessons for violin, clarinet, bass clarinet and voice. In 4th grade, with the encouragement of Mrs. Grace, her Stewart School vocal teacher, she participated in NYSSMA and received an outstanding ranking. In 5th grade, Grace continued with NYSSMA and was invited to join the 2016 Division 1W All County Chorus. Grace found the experience inspirational. Additionally, she was selected to play the lead role of Pamina in the 5th grade opera, “The Magic Flute.” Grace is looking forward to continuing with both voice and clarinet at the Garden City Middle School in September.
Stratford School
Eric Hartmann
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Eric Hartmann has been playing the French horn for a little more than three years. He has participated in the NYSSMA festival for the last two years and was selected as a horn player for the NME All County festival. Eric plays with the Nassau/Suffolk Youth Band and has performed in concerts at Tilles Center and Molloy College Theater. He has also submitted entries to the PTA Reflections contest in music composition and won district honors. Eric sings with the Cathedral Choir of Men and Choristers.
Sophia Betit
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Sophia Betit, 10 years old, is honored and thankful to receive the Garden City Friends of Music Outstanding Achievement Award for Vocal Music! Sophia has always loved music and performing. She has appeared in several musical theatre productions, including the role of “Jojo” in Broadhollow Theatre’s production of “Seussical, The Musical, Jr.” and “Annie” in Stratford School’s 5th grade production of “Annie, Jr.”. Sophia studies both voice and piano and has achieved outstanding scores in the NYSSMA Festival for both vocal solo and piano solo for the past 3 years. This year, she participated in the Nassau All County Chorus.
