The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York will present the top 16 finalists of the 2018-2019 Concerto and Vocal Competition in a concert on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, Centerport.
Instrumental Finalists Division I (grades 4-8)
Emma Hong, violin, age 12, South Woods Middle School
Theresa Jiao, violin, age 13, P. J. Gelinas Junior High School
Carolyn Lau, flute, age 13, Herricks Middle School
Alice Wang, viola, age 13, West Hollow Middle School
Vocal Finalists Division I (grades 4-8)
Natalie Ceonzo, soprano, age 12, Trinity Regional School
Maria Gaztanaga, soprano, age 12, Garden City Middle School
Jade Silverstein, soprano, age 13, Harbor Country Day School
Avani Schwartz, soprano, age 13, Manhasset Middle School
Instrumental Finalists Division II (grades 9-12)
Aaron Ichel, violin, age 16, Half Hollow Hills High School East
Rebecca Nelsen, oboe, age 16, Eastport South Manor Jr/Sr High School
Donald Schweikert, bassoon, age 17, Sayville High School
Ju Young Yee, clarinet, age 17, Herricks High School
Vocal Finalists Division II (grades 9-12)
Maria Leonardi, soprano, age 17, Massapequa High School
Isabella Panag, soprano, age 14, Mount Sinai High School
Rachel Schlesinger, soprano, age 16, North Shore Hebrew Academy
Kayla Sorensen, soprano, age 17, North Shore High School
The concert is free and open to the public and the featured performers are talented Long Island singers and instrumentalists between the ages of 12 and 17.
The finalists will perform their competition piece in the Congregational Church of Huntington and the winners will be chosen by an esteemed jury, including: Dr. David Fryling, director of choral studies at Hofstra University, Professor Maureen Hynes, director of orchestra and string studies at LIU Post, and North Merrick school music teacher Margaret Rakas.
The 1st place winners of the competition, one instrumentalist and one vocalist from each of the Divisions I (grades 4-8) and II (grades 9-12), will win a cash award in the amount of $500 each and may be able to perform as a soloist with their Metropolitan Youth Orchestra ensemble during the spring 2018 or fall 2018 concerts. There will also be cash awards for the 2nd ($200) and 3rd ($100) place winners, in each of the instrumental and vocal categories.
