Huntington Seniors Presented with Music Awards
Jeffrey Bishop won a bevy of music awards at this month’s senior academic awards night in the Huntington High School auditorium. Orchestra director Lisa Leonardi presented medals, certificates, plaques, pins and financial scholarships to students who have distinguished themselves over the past four years.
Mr. Bishop earned the $1,000 Linda Shoemaker Blue Devil Band Scholarship, awarded to a senior who best exemplifies the benefits of membership in the band on his/her personal growth during high school. The senior also won the $300 New York State Field Band Conference Award, the Tri-M Music Leadership Award for his leadership with the music honor society and the National School Marching Band Award for his outstanding contributions on the field.
On a night that clearly belonged to Mr. Bishop, the George Washington University-bound senior was also presented with the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for being an outstanding instrumentalist as demonstrated through superior musicianship, character and individual creativity.
Mr. Bishop also took home the John Philip Sousa Award, which was created in 1955 and honors the top student in the high school band. “This award has become the pinnacle of achievement for band students,” Ms. Leonardi said. “It was developed with the cooperation of Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa, daughters of the famous composer and bandmaster.”
Ms. Leonardi presented Diya Kapur with the Patrick Gilmore Band Award for her musicianship and dedication to the band program. It was first introduced in 1994 to honor the legendary 19th century bandmaster.
Amanda Ho and Emika Wada were presented with American Legion Music Award medals for having “contributed the most in the field of music.” Jeffrey Arnoux, Kelsey Kunes, Victoria Alexander, John Urban, Vernon O’Garra and Christine Corcoran were given Blue Devil Band Service Award certificates.
The Suffolk County Music Educators Association presented Keith Kirkpatrick with a $100 scholarship after he was selected as an “outstanding senior” by music department members.
The Jane Sullivan Award for the best all-around choir student in the graduating class went to Jenn Szilagy. It carries a stipend of $100. The James Doty Memorial Award, which is presented annually to a member of the high school orchestra who has demonstrated devoted service over three years, was presented to Christian Wilbur. It also carries a $100 stipend.
Olivia Wyrick won the Evelyn Daniels Memorial Scholarship. The $100 award is presented to an outstanding member of the orchestra who has excelled as a performer and exhibited dedicated service to the orchestra.
Ms. Wyrick, Mr. Wilbur and Ms. Ho also won $200 scholarships given by the orchestra parents association for their dedication and service.
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