2017 Outstanding Achievement Awards

Congratulations to our 2017 Outstanding Achievement Awards winners!  Every year, students from the Garden City High School, Garden City Middle School, Stewart and Stratford Avenue schools who participate in school band, orchestra, orchestra and electronic music are recommended by their teachers to receive this award.

GARDEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL

Cole Sonner

Outstanding Achievement in Band

Cole Sonner’s interest in the French Horn began after attending his older brother’s band concert, hearing a Horn solo and being inspired to pursue the instrument even before he entered Elementary School; he has played since the fourth grade. Cole participated in seven NYSSMA festivals and performed with the All-County band three times. In addition, he was the Garden City Friends of Music Award Recipient at Stratford Ave. School in 2010. In 2013, as a Freshman, Cole auditioned 
for, and was accepted as the only Freshman in the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. McCrann. In 2015 he was inducted into the Tri-M Honor Society. Over the course of four years performing with the Wind Ensemble, Cole rose to become the Principal Horn in his Senior year. Cole will be attending Wake Forest University in the fall.

Elena DiChiara

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

Elena DiChiara began playing the violin in the second grade at Stratford School. She has continued playing throughout the middle school and high school orchestras under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Gullotta. Elena has come full circle in the instrument when in middle school, she had high school tutors and in the high school, she tutored middle schoolers. In addition to tutoring, Elena has also participated in NYSSMA in middle school and chamber orchestra in the high school. Starting in middle school as a 2nd violinist, her growth through years of practice culminated in her junior and senior year sitting in the first violin section. In the fall, Elena will be attending the University of Delaware as an elementary education major. 

Ann Ambach

Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music

Ann Ambach has been involved in music her entire life. This year she was selected to the elite NAfME All Eastern Honors Mixed Choir and NYSSMA All State Mixed Choir. At the Garden City High School, she is in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She is the student director of Chamber Choir and an Executive Board member of the Tri M Music Honor Society. Last summer, she attended the New York State Summer School for the Arts School of Choral Studies, a prestigious summer choral program, and will return this summer. She has taken private voice lessons for 6 years. She will be majoring in music at St. Olaf College next year, and can’t wait to further pursue her passion there.

Garden City Middle School

Ella LaBate

Outstanding Achievement in Band

Ella LaBate began her life in music when she was in 4th grade. She remembers joining Stewart School’s band and choosing the clarinet and then switching to oboe in 5th grade. As soon as she started playing the oboe, she instantly fell in love. She joined outside bands like Nassau Suffolk and Gemini to continue with music even when she’s not in school. She recently played with her school’s wind quintet for our superintendent’s retirement and loved the experience. Music will forever hold a place in her heart past her experiences here in the middle school. She feels honored to have received this award this year.

Enzo Cupani

Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music

Enzo Cupani’s interested in music was sparked at a young age, because his dad is a jazz guitarist, and that was his lullaby. When he took piano lessons at the Garden City Nursery School, he found his instrument. He continued his piano lessons at the Music Academy of Garden City, and has progressed to include vocal and ensemble lessons. As a Level 3  NYSSMA Festival participant in piano, he has consistently earned outstanding scores. Enzo also participates in the GCMS Robotics Club, therefore the Electronic Music program was a perfect mix for him. He is looking forward to participating in the MAGC Rock Bands Camp this summer, and in GCHS Chorus in September.

Brendan J. Irwin

Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music

Brendan Irwin began his music career by taking piano lessons when he was five years old. Since then, he has also studied clarinet, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. His influences include Green Day, Oasis, and Linkin Park. Brendan wishes to thank the Garden City Friends of Music for this award and also Mr. Russo for an amazing three years of electronic music.

Sarah Schultz

Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music

Sarah Schultz started her music career in fourth grade playing the flute at Stewart School. She then started piano lessons soon after, and in sixth grade began learning and quickly loving the guitar. She continued playing flute throughout her GCMS career and joined the high school marching band at the end of seventh grade. This coming season she will play piccolo for the GCHS marching band. Guitar remains her favorite instrument, now broadened to include the ukulele, 12 string guitar and mandolin. She will be attending the School of Rock this summer.

Kyle Stevenson

Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music

Kyle Stevenson began his musical career playing percussion instruments in the 4th grade band at Stratford Elementary School. In Grade 4 and 5 he played drums and has performed in many school concerts. For the past 3 years at the Garden City Middle School, Kyle has been a student in Mr. Russo’s Electronic Music class. In this class, Kyle has worked independently on instruments such as electronic drums and keyboard. This class further developed his desire to learn to play music. Two and a half years ago for a holiday gift Kyle was surprised with a mini baby grand digital piano and began taking weekly lessons to strengthen his skills. He continues with his lessons. Kyle enjoys playing and learning all types of music and will miss attending Mr. Russo’s class.

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

Rachel Joffe

Rachel Joffe started the viola in the third grade orchestra at Stratford School with Mr. Albani. He was a very nice and encouraging teacher who recommended the middle school orchestra to Rachel. After Stratford she continued playing at the GCMS with Mrs. Gullotta. She was a very good teacher throughout all the years and she helped Rachel become the player she is today. Rachel was introduced to music at an early age by playing the piano for many years. Now she plays both the piano and viola and will continue onto the high school orchestra for the viola.

Jenna Marie Matarazzo

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

Madison Marie Matarazzo

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

Madison Marie Matarazzo began her attentiveness with the cello in third grade at Stewart Elementary School with Mr. Albani and has since become highly talented. She continued such interest for three years under Mrs. Gullotta at the Garden City Middle School and is looking forward to joining the High School orchestra as well as the chamber orchestra. During her many years playing the cello, Madison has enjoyed leading her section as a consistent member of the principle stand as well as tutoring younger students. She is thrilled to be continuing playing the cello for many more years to come.

Olympia Van Blenis

Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music

My name is Olympia Van Blenis. I am 14 years old, and proud to be a recipient of the Garden City Friends of Music Outstanding Achievement Award for Vocal Music. Although I have never had a professional voice coach, the music teachers that I have had over the course of my life have helped me to become who I am today as a singer. I have been in multiple plays, such as La Bohème and Singin’ In The Rain, and have done vocal NYSSMA for the past three years. The amount of time I spend singing, to anyone and anywhere, is evidently worth it, and I thank everyone who has helped me to receive this award.

Stewart School

James Nagler

Outstanding Achievement in Band

Fifth grade student James Nagler is honored to receive the Outstanding Achievement in Band Award for Stewart School.  James has played the alto saxophone for the past three years and has greatly enjoyed participating in the Stewart band and jazz bands.  In January, James was selected for the Fifth Grade All County band, and earned the first chair position for alto sax.  He completed NYSSMA level 4 this past spring, where he received an “outstanding” score.  In addition to the saxophone, James has been studying piano at the New World Music Center for the past six years and in 2016 received a perfect score on NYSSMA level 3 for piano.  He looks forward to joining the band next year at the Garden City Middle School.

Ryan Lane

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

Ryan Lane started playing the violin at 2 nd grade and joined the third grade orchestra at Stewart School. At Stewart School, he has been in the orchestra for the past three years and string ensemble for two years. He participated in the 2016 NYSSMA Festival, played in the Long Island Festival 5 th Grade and 2017 Division 1 West All-County Orchestra. He was awarded the plaque of Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra at Stewart School. This May 2017, he received a perfect score of 28 in his NYSSMA spring evaluation festival for level 3. His inspiration is his music teacher, Mr. Andrew Albani and his fellow orchestra players that share his love for music.
 
 

Maria Gaztañag

Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music

I, Maria Gaztañaga a soprano, was singing around the house since I was little. My parents took me to voice lessons because I really enjoyed singing. I was Dorothy at the Hemlock school production and I wanted to continue this path on the yellow brick road. After a while I realized I was really serious about singing so I told my parents that I would love to be on Broadway!! My parents decided to take me to another vocal coach teacher in Manhattan to see if I was prepared for that, so now I have two different voice teachers. Since then my life started to change. Last summer I played a card role in Alice in wonderland at John Engeman theater, I had a lot of fun. I am also part of the All County Chorus. This year I was Giannetta in “The elixir of love” at Stewart School. So far, I did three cabaret workshops at “Don’t tell Mama” in NYC where I learned to be on stage by myself. This summer I got chosen to play the role of Flounder in “The Little Mermaid” at John Engeman theater. I won a “Reflections” award for singing and writing the song “I am music”. I am trying to work hard to pursue my dreams to be on Broadway with my voice lessons and my dance lessons. I practice hard so when an audition comes I will be prepared.

Stratford School

Riley Donahue

Outstanding Achievement in Band

Riley Donahue began playing the clarinet in 4th grade at Stratford school under the direction of her teacher Mrs. Glickman. In 5th grade she performed in two school concerts. Her winter concert and spring concert. She also performed with the all-county band and performed a level 2 solo for NYSSMA. Her biggest inspiration is her teacher Riana Kane. Riley will be continuing the clarinet through high school. Her other interests are soccer and lacrosse. Riley lives with her parents and 2 sisters.

David Digan

Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra

David Digan has been playing the cello for a few years at Stratford School under the direction of Mr. Albani. He attends Suzuki on the Island under the direction of Ani Gregorian Resnick and is a participant of the Chamber Camp at Suzuki on the Island for the past two years. David also has been playing the piano for two years and the drums for a year.

Julia DeMaro

Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music

Julia DeMaro first became interested in singing from music class at Homestead School. She began to develop her soprano voice with private singing lessons and started to perform in musicals such as “Willy Wonka Jr.,” in which she played the leading role of Charlie Bucket. Julia recently performed the starring role of Dorothy in Stratford School’s production of “The Wizard of Oz Jr.” She has received two perfect NYSSMA scores and participated in 2016’s All County Chorus. Julia would like to thank Mrs. Lavin and Mrs. Betit for being her inspirations. She looks forward to continuing her singing career in middle school.