2019 Outstanding Achievement Awards
Congratulations to our 2019 Outstanding Achievement Awards winners!
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 13 award winners.
GARDEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL
Jeanne Butler
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Jeanne Butler began playing clarinet in 3rd grade at Stratford Elementary School. She continued with the clarinet in the Middle School Band and High School Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble, as well as taking up tenor and alto saxophone in the Middle School’s Late Night Jazz Band and the High School Jazz Ensemble. Jeanne participated in the NYSSMA music festival for clarinet, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, piano, and voice. She received an A+ on all levels of clarinet NYSSMA and took part in the All-County Music Festival in 2012, 2017, and 2018. Jeanne also volunteers for the Salvation Army, playing the clarinet during the holiday season to raise money for the needy. Jeanne would like to thank her parents, private teachers, school teachers, and Dr. McCrann for the guidance and encouragement they have given her over the years.
Christina Bennett
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Christina Bennett’s interest in music began since she was quite young, as she grew up in a household that both listened to and played many instruments. She began to practice violin in elementary school at Denton Avenue and then Stewart School. Playing in the first violin section.
Her interest in orchestra was fostered at Garden City Middle School and High School where she is currently the co-principal second violin as a graduating senior. Her inspirations in music are from her older brother’s band Aunt Ange and many other bands including Nirvana, Red Hot
Chili Peppers, Led Zeppelin, and other music like K-pop group Pentagon. She will be attending Stony Brook University in the fall.
Elizabeth Fetherston
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Elizabeth is thrilled to receive the Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music Award. She received this award in the Fifth grade (Stratford School ) and Eighth grade ( Garden City Middle School ) and receiving it again as a Senior is an incredible honor. Elizabeth’s passion for music began at a young age where she performed in many musicals, both in school and out of school. At Garden City High School, she sang in the Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Elizabeth is a board member of Tri-M, the music honor society as well as the Student Director for the Chamber Choir. She has participated in the NYSSMA Festival for the past eight years and has performed with the All County Chorus. Elizabeth has a passion for classical music and has sung at Carnegie Hall in both 2018 and 2019 with the Honors Performance Series. Elizabeth will be attending Loyola University in the fall where she will be studying Music Education.
Garden City Middle School
Eric Hartmann
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Eric is honored to have received the Garden City Friends of Music Award for band. He began studying the French horn in 3rd grade with a private teacher and joined the Stratford School band. In middle school he has participated in the band, played trumpet in Late Night Jazz, played bass drum in the middle school marching band and joined the high school marching band playing mellophone. Through the years Eric has participated in the NYSSMA festival, All County band and orchestra-being selected as the horn soloist in Firebird Suite, and Nassau/Suffolk Arts bands as well as student apprentice in Band of Long Island. He looks forward to continuing his musical journey with participation in the high school wind ensemble and marching band, and the Great Neck community summer Rotary band. He would like to thank his music teachers Ms. Iovino, Ms. Sanders and Mr. DellaMonica and his private teacher Denise Meshijan for encouraging, inspiring and teaching him and sharing their joy of music.
Matthew Heaney
Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music
Matthew Heaney enjoyed taking two years of electronic music at the Garden City Middle School. He learned how to play the keyboard, the electric guitar, the Ukulele and the electronic drums. Matthew was encouraged by Mr. Russo to research music that he enjoyed listening to and learned how to play it. Matthew will continue to pursue playing electronic music for years to come.
Sonia Cherpelis
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Sonia Cherpelis began her interest with the viola in third grade with the orchestra at Stewart. She has participated in the NYSSMA festival for six years and has participated in the Long Island String Festival and the All-County Music Festival multiple times. She is currently playing in the GCHS orchestra. She has been a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra for three years and currently is. She is looking forward to going on tour with MYO in the summer of 2020. She also has participated in the LIU chamber music festival for two years. She had multiple experiences playing at halls such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall while being principle of her section.
Erin O’Connor
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Erin O’Connor’s interest in singing has grown since the third grade. She began taking private voice lessons at the Garden City Music Academy three years ago and is in the GCMS chorus. Erin has been actively involved with Festival Chorus and the Music Box Players since sixth grade and she recently played the role of The Genie in “Aladdin Jr.” She participated in the NYSSMA Festival three times and qualified each time to perform with the All County Choir. Along with private voice lessons, Erin participates in musical theater classes and recently started dance classes outside of school. Her models of musical inspiration and influence include GCMS Chorus teacher Mrs. Menges, Lin Manuel Miranda and Stephen Sondheim. Erin aspires to be a professional actress on Broadway.
Stewart School
Ryan Haniffy
Outstanding Achievement in Band
Ryan Haniffy was introduced to the saxophone in 4th grade and quickly learned to love playing under the direction of Mr. Psenicka. Ryan participated in NYSSMA in 4th and 5th grade receiving a “Perfect” score in Level 1 and an “Outstanding” score in Level 2. He was honored to be selected to represent Stewart School at the All County Music Festival this past January. Ryan enjoys playing with and taking lessons from his cousin Claire Schick who plays in the GCHS Band. Ryan is looking forward to continuing to play in the GCMS Band next year.
Emily Fang
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Emily Fang (a fifth grader) began her interest in the cello in her third grade orchestra at Stewart school. She continued in the orchestra while joining the string ensemble session in early mornings. Both groups were under the direction of Mr. Albani. She participated in the NYSSMA Festival for cello in 2018 and was selected for Nassau All Country and LISFA in spring 2019. She looks forward to playing in the middle school orchestra next year.
Emily Pulver
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Emily has been interested in music since she was a little girl. Her interest grew when she started singing in the children’s choir in her former parish in Babylon, New York. After moving to Garden City in April 2018, she started to take part in the various vocal performances available at Stewart. In 5th grade, Emily auditioned for the annual opera and was cast as Musetta in “La Boheme.” She was a member of the Stewart 5th Grade Select Chorus and is also a member of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus. Lastly, she was selected for All-County Chorus and participated in NYSSMA. Emily’s inspiration for her singing is her wonderful music teacher Mrs. Grace.
Stratford School
James Sullivan
Outstanding Achievement in Band
James Sullivan began playing clarinet in Stratford under the guidance and encouragement of Ms. Riana Kane. He showed an immediate interest and affinity for the clarinet, and quickly earned himself first chair position. He began private study with Ms. Susan Gallo of Wantagh, who further enhanced James’ musical appreciation and aptitude. James received a perfect score on his first NYSSMA test, and will continue to play next year at GCMS.
Ella Marchan
Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra
Ella began her interest in violin in third grade orchestra at Stratford. She has participated in this year’s NYSSMA Festival, played in the Long Island String Festival, and All-County orchestra. Her inspiration is her orchestra teacher, Mr. Albani. She attends The Garden City Music Academy during the school year.
Alessandra Pinto
Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music
Alessandra Pinto (age 10) showed her interest in vocal music at a young age by singing along to the radio and participating in the Garden City Library summer talent shows. She began voice lessons two years ago with Mr. George Petersen. She performs in his recitals at the Garden City Community Church and in the NYSSMA Festival for both piano and voice. This year she was selected for the All-County Chorus. Alessandra has also developed a love for musical theatre. She performed in the BroadHollow Children’s Theatre Company and in Stratford School’s 5th grade play, The Jungle Book, as King Louie. This summer, she will be attending the Musical Theatre Program at Molloy College. Alessandra has been fortunate to have incredibly supportive music teachers over the years, including Mrs. Joanne Russo, Mr. George Petersen, Ms. Riana Kane, and Mr. Matthew Gomm.
