The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, is excited to announce the winners of the 2020 Edward Miller Memorial Music Scholarships.
They are: Michele D’Ambrosio, graduating from Glen Cove High School, and Jasmine Rodriguez, graduating from Island Trees High School in Levittown. These two highly accomplished music students were chosen for this award by the prestigious Nassau Music Educators Association.
The Edward Miller Memorial Music Scholarship was founded by the Music Committee of UUCSR in September 2004, to honor Edward Miller, music director of UUCSR. Miller was also a music teacher at East Rockaway High School.
The scholarship is funded by members of the congregation as part of its philanthropic mission. This year, each scholarship winner will receive $3,500 in unrestricted funds.
(Photos courtesy of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock)
Michele D’Ambrosio plays alto saxophone. While in high school, she participated in Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Select Chorus, and conducted Wind Ensemble.
She earned perfect scores on her New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) evaluations three years in a row and performed at Nassau All-County and New York All-State, where she was the first chair on saxophone.
D’Ambrosio was a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She won a Merit Scholarship to attend the USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts, where she performed along with faculty members at their annual gala event.
She is a member of Northwinds Symphonic Band, a community organization of music teachers and music school graduates, and recently performed a solo with them. D’Ambrosio will attend Temple University in Philadelphia, majoring in music education.
Jasmine Rodriguez played tuba in Concert and Marching Band, and double bass in Orchestra and Pit Orchestra. She earned perfect scores on her NYSSMA evaluations. She also sang in the chorus and composes original music on the keyboard.
Rodriguez was president and member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She performed at New York All-State Symphony Orchestra and attended the New York State Summer School for the Arts.
She also participated in Long Island University’s Band Festival, the Long Island String Festival, the Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony, and has been performing for her local church.
Rodriguez will enter Ithaca College, with a major in music education and perhaps a minor in performance.
In the past, Miller Scholarship winners received their awards during a special worship service at UUCSR, during which they would perform. Due to the coronavirus, D’Ambrosio and Rodriguez were mailed their scholarships and award certificates.
For more information about UUCSR music scholarship guidelines and applications, please go to www.uucsr.org.
Submitted by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
