Huntington High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter welcomed 23 new members during last week’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 Isabella Cahill (president), Julien Rentsch (vice-president), Abigail Semelsberger (secretary), Jennifer Low (treasurer) and Mia Nitekman (historian) assumed integral 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 Sarah Biernacki, Mia Brown, Chloe Buffone, Katherine Eichenberger, Emerson Forbes, Brenden Garcia, Natalie Gonzalez, Lauren Gooding, Vianca Hinds, Rebecca Hoffmann, Robert Jean-Gilles, Peyton Kalb, Grace Kenny, Carrie Kilgour, Sam Levine, Catherine McCooey, Eliana Ng, Lily O’Heir, Ella Siepel, Alexis Smith, Chloe Wheeler, Grace Wildermuth and Bryan Wong.
The audience was treated to spectacular musical performances by several Tri-M members, including a string quartet comprised of Hannah Bailin, Arielle Harvey, Haley Mortell and Ella Siepel, trombonist Christopher Engle and vocalists Isabella Cahill and Mia Nitekman.
Each of the officers along with guest speaker Martha Tibbetts all gave the crowd articulate testimonials regarding their love of music and the role it has played in their life. District Director of Fine & Performing Arts Eric Reynolds shared his pride in the Huntington music program and paid tribute to its outstanding young musicians and faculty members.
Joining the Tri-M officers, advisors and Mr. Reynolds on the School Heritage Museum’s stage were high school music teachers Nicole Castaldo and Jason Giachetti, who both wanted to share in the special night that saw nearly two dozen new members brought into the organization’s ranks.
The crowd of 125 included Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky, School Board President Jennifer Hebert, Trustee Christine Biernacki and Assistant Principal Gamal Smith.
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.
A small reception held in the area outside the School Heritage Museum allowed new and current Tri-M members to mingle with one another, their parents and school officials.
