Huntington High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter welcomed 37 new members during Thursday night’s induction ceremony in the School Heritage Museum.
The name Tri-M is derived from the international honor society’s original name: Modern Music Masters. Candidates for membership are required to demonstrate scholarship, achievement, leadership and service. The group has traditionally been one of Huntington’s most active and prestigious honor societies.
Tri-M officers Adina Kirkland (president), Christopher Chang (vice-president), Amelia Maggio (secretary), Joshua Yanuck (treasurer) and Mia Nitekman (historian) assumed central roles during the induction ceremony. Huntington music teachers Brian Stellato and Victoria Garbarino are the organization’s faculty advisors.
The new class of Tri-M members includes KellyAlfaro-Alvarez, Zubair Ali, Joshua Avidor, Lucy Biblow, Katie Burton, Natalie Ciccone, Natalie Furman, Nathaniel Gamboa, Mathew Hearl, Thomas Holly, Catherine Jamison, Neil Jean-Baptiste, Molly Kessler, Oskar Kilgour, Madelyn Kye, Maggie Lalor, Jennifer Low, Keenan Lyons, Christopher Mavrogian, Noah Morris, Nathan Musso, James Obermaier, Kyle Perea, Chris Porzio, Diya Rai-Gersappe, Madelyn Reed, Michael Reed, Julien Rentsch, Julia Segal, Abigail Semelsberger, Lia Shechter, Nathan Soric, Joe Suarez, Andy Ulloa, Erika Varady, Graham Young and Faith Youngquist.
Cellist and star Broadway performer Brandon J. Ellis was the evening’s keynote speaker. He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He frequently uses his musical performance skills during his acting projects.
“This evening, we welcome the newest class of Huntington High School Tri-M members,” Director of Fine and Performing Arts Eric Reynolds told the crowd. These 37 student musicians have proven themselves in the classroom, on the stage, and in the community. Year after year our Tri-M chapter reaches out into the district and community volunteering their time and effort working at numerous music festivals and concerts, performing at different venues throughout town, and tutoring our younger band and orchestra students in private lessons. The ideas and efforts the new Tri-M members put forth will have an effect on this program and its future, helping to shape our department’s vision related to music education, service and community building.”
The audience was treated to spectacular musical performances by several Tri-M members, including vocalist Amelia Maggio and pianist Christopher Chang.
To qualify for Tri-M membership, students must be enrolled in at least one music class for at least one semester, have at least a 2.0 grade point average in their core classes and a 3.0 in their music class(es), and be of strong character. Huntington students are also required to perform a NYSSMA solo or ensemble selection at levels 4, 5, or 6 in the school year prior to submitting their application.
Ms. Kirkland closed the ceremony with an articulate set of well-received remarks. A small reception in the area outside the School Heritage Museum as students mingled with one another, their parents and school officials.
