Huntington Seniors Presented with Music Awards
Natasha Stollmack is this year's recipient of the $1,000 Linda Shoemaker Blue Devil Scholarship as the senior "who best exemplifies the benefits of membership in the band on his personal growth during high school." The honor was presented during the senior academic awards night held earlier this month in the Huntington High School auditorium.
Seniors walked away with 20 different music medals, certificates, plaques, pins and financial scholarships after distinguishing themselves over the past four years.
Ms. Stollmack and Mary-Liz O'Neill were the recipients of the Huntington High School Award for Overall Contributions to Music. Ms. O'Neill, who will attend The Julliard School in the fall, also shared the National Choral Award with Jonah Kramer, who is headed to New York University.
Kennth Stropoli captured the Patrick Gilmore Band Award for her musicianship and dedication to the band program. It was first introduced in 1994 to honor the legendary 19th century bandmaster. Mr. Stropoli will attend Caldwell College in the fall.
Mikah Feldman-Stein, a Wesleyan University-bound senior was presented with the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for being an outstanding instrumentalist as demonstrated through superior musicianship, character and individual creativity.
Ms. Stollmack, who is headed to the University of Delaware in the fall, took home the John Philip Sousa Award, which was created in 1955 and honors the top student in the high school band. The award has become the pinnacle of achievement for band students. It was developed with the cooperation of Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa, daughters of the famous composer and bandmaster. The senior was also the recipient of the Tri-M Music Leadership Award and the National School Marching Band Award.
Florida State University-bound Lauren Corcoran and Joseph D'Esposito, who will be attending Ithaca College, were presented with American Legion Music Award medals for having "contributed the most in the field of music."
Shayne Larkin (Univ. of Delaware), Sean Harkins (Nassau Community College), Anne Scott (Marist College) and Ms. Corcorda were given Blue Devil Band Service Award certificates.
Adam Cerini, who is bound for Cooper Union, won the Woody Herman Jazz Award. Derek Schmelter, who will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, was presented with the New York State Field Band Conference Award. It carries a $300 stipend.
The Suffolk County Music Educators Association presented Stony Brook University-bound Mercury Caronia with a $100 scholarship after she was selected as an "outstanding senior" by music department members.
Corina Antonucci earned the $100 NYSME music scholarship. The senior is headed to Queens College in the fall. Brain Castillo, who will attend SUNY College at Potsdam, earned the James Doty Memorial Award, which is presented annually to a member of the high school orchestra who has demonstrated devoted service over three years. It also carries a $100 stipend.
The Jane Sullivan Award for the best all-around choir student in the graduating class went to Shira Moskowitz. The award carries a stipend of $100. Ms. Moskowitz will begin studies at the University of Michigan next fall.
Mr. D'Esposito won the Evelyn Daniels Memorial Scholarship. The $100 award is presented to an outstanding member of the orchestra who has excelled as a performer and exhibited dedicated service to the orchestra.
Mr. D'Esposito and John Ferraiolo won $200 scholarships given by the Orchestra Parents' Association, for their dedication and service. David Romard, who will attend Nassau Community College, was the recipient of the Dorothea Waddell Award, which includes a $100 stipend.