The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York will present the top 16 finalists — out of 74 applicants — of the 2018-19 Concerto and Vocal Competition in a concert on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.
The concert is free, open to the public, and will take place at the Congregational Church of Huntington at 30 Washington Drive in Centerport.
The featured performers are all Long Island-based musicians and Metropolitan Youth Orchestra members, including:
Instrumental Finalists Division I (grades 4 to 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; and Alice Wang, viola, age 13, West Hollow Middle School.
Vocal Finalists Division I (grades 4 to 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; and Avani Schwartz, soprano, age 13, Manhasset Middle School.
Instrumental Finalists Division II (grades 9 to 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; and Ju Young Yee, clarinet, age 17, Herricks High School.
Vocal Finalists Division II (grades 9 to 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; and Kayla Sorensen, soprano, age 17, North Shore High School.
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 first place winners of the competition, one instrumentalist and one vocalist from each of the divisions, will win a cash award in the amount of $500 each and will be eligible to perform as a soloist with their Metropolitan Youth Orchestra ensemble during the spring or fall 2019 concerts. There will also be cash awards for the second ($200) and third ($100) place winners 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 McNeur, the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra has grown from one orchestra of 15 members to seven orchestras and seven choral ensembles, serving almost 1,000 young musicians between the ages of 8 and 18. For more information, visit www.myo.org or call 516-365-6961.
