The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York will be presenting the top sixteen finalists from a group of 75 applicants of the 2019-2020 Concerto and Vocal Competition in a concert on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive, Centerport, NY 11721. The concert is free and open to the public.
The featured performers are all Long Island-based musicians between the ages of 9 and 17:
Instrumental Finalists Division I (grades 4-8)
Emma Hong, violin, age 13, South Woods Middle School
Tobia Im, violin, age 10, Harbor Hill Elementary School
Kaylee Luo, violin, age 13, Herricks Middle School
Julia Rhee, viola, age 12, Harry B. Thompson Middle School
Vocal Finalists Division I (grades 4-8)
Vanessa Charoenrat, child’s voice, age 9, Our Lady of Peace School
Ava Daw, soprano, age 13, Seneca Middle School
Maria Gaztañaga, soprano, age 13, Garden City Middle School
Austyn Park, tenor, age 13, Manhasset Middle School
Instrumental Finalists Division II (grades 9-12)
Evan Cheng, violin, age 16, Syosset High School
William Dunlop, oboe, age 17, Miller Place High School
Boris Lu, bass, age 16, Syosset High School
Rebecca Nelsen, oboe, age 17, Eastport South Manor Jr/Sr High School
Vocal Finalists Division II (grades 9-12)
Joseph Albano, bass voice, age 17, Sachem North High School
Michelle Cuocci, soprano, age 15, Kellenberg Memorial High School
Allison Fama, soprano, age 16, Babylon Jr/Sr High School
Rachel Schlesinger, soprano, age 17, North Shore Hebrew Academy
The finalists will perform their competition piece in the Congregational Church of Huntington and the winners will be chosen by an esteemed jury consisting of Director of Choral Studies at Hofstra University Dr. David Fryling, Director of Orchestra and String Studies at LIU Post Professor Maureen Hynes and North Merrick School Music Teacher Margaret Rakas.
The first-place winners of the competition, one instrumentalist and one vocalist from each of the divisions, will each win a $500 award and may be able to perform as a soloist with their MYO ensemble during the 2020-2021 season. There will also be cash awards of $200 and $100 for the second and third place winners, respectively, in each of the instrumental and vocal categories.
The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York is committed to fostering a community of talented young musicians from Long Island and providing them with an opportunity to rehearse and perform choral and orchestral masterworks at the highest possible level with recognized leaders in music education and performance. Founded in the fall of 1993 by John C. McNeur, MYO has grown from one orchestra of 15 members to seven orchestras and nine choirs, serving almost 1,000 young musicians between the ages of 8 and 18. For more information, please visit www.myo.org or call 516-365-6961.
Story submitted by the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York.
