Arielle Harvey was drawn to the world of music at a young age. The Huntington High School sophomore has developed into an outstanding violinist and she can play several other instruments, too.
“I started playing violin at the age of six,” Ms. Harvey said. “I became interested in this instrument after listening to my sister’s piano teacher, Yonitte Ryger (also a violinist) play her violin. Shortly after that, I began to take private lessons with her.”
A genial young woman, Ms. Harvey can also play viola, piano and ukulele. “I got involved in the Huntington music program as a third grader through the New York State School Music Association festival and the district’s summer arts enrichment program,” she said.
A regular participant in the NYSSMA program ever since that first year, Ms. Harvey enjoyed a full experience as a Huntington fourth grader, playing flute in the band, violin in the orchestra and singing in the choir with teachers Mitch Malle, Claude Masear and Karen Cronin, respectively.
The following year, Ms. Harvey performed with both the fifth and sixth grader orchestras. She’s been picked to perform with the Long Island String Festival and the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County orchestra every year since fifth grade.
A lifelong resident of Huntington, Ms. Harvey began her journey through the district as a Jefferson Primary School kindergarten student. She’s been a member of the Children’s Orchestra Society and the Gemini Youth Orchestra.
The teenager has attended Mannes Prep, a pre-college music program of the Mannes School of Music in New York City since sixth grade. Outside of the regular school day, Ms. Harvey studies with private teacher Arik Braude.
“From a young age, music has been a large part of my life,” Ms. Harvey said. “I’ve worked hard on it for many years. I have performed in venues from Symphony Space to Lincoln Center and even at my uncle’s wedding. Music is something I enjoy and have a great passion for. I am able to improve my ability by one method: practice, practice, practice. Practice makes perfect.”
The teenager has played field hockey since seventh grade and co-captained Huntington’s junior varsity team last fall. Ms. Harvey also helped lead her Relay For Life team last spring at Huntington High School’s annual outdoor fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
Ms. Harvey will be inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society this week. She participates in Natural Helpers, is a stage crew member, volunteers with Huntington’s Special Olympics athletes and performs with the high school chamber orchestra.
The sophomore said her favorite classes are chemistry, global history, orchestra and photography. She still has no idea where she might attend college, but Ms. Harvey said she’d consider majoring in science and/or music.
Besides the three music teachers mentioned earlier, Ms. Harvey said she’s also worked closely with department members Nicole Castaldo, Christina Bashin and Matthew Gelfer and former Finley teacher Deborah Kim.
“I hope to one day gain a higher understanding of [music] theory,” Harvey said. “Being in the Mannes pre-college program is a wonderful opportunity. It exposes me to like-minded musicians and I strive to be like my peers and professors.”