Click here for the
2007-2008 Music Performance calendar.
Monticello Schools honored again for its great music program
Monticello's Music Department has been selected as one of the
nation's best school districts for music education for the second
year in a row. This top honor is given by the NAMM Foundation to
districts with a "superb school-based music education program for
young people."
Click here
for the the NAMM Foundation web site with the complete list of "Best
Communities."
Congratulations once again to the music department faculty and
staff!
The following story is re-printed courtesy
the Sullivan County Democrat.
Monticello HS
music honored
MONTICELLO - Monticello Central School District has been designated
a "Best community" for its commitment to provide quality music
education programs for its students.
The designation came from the NAMM
Foundation, which announced the results of the ninth annual "Best
Communities for Music Education" survey, which includes 110 school
districts across the US.
The designated programs exemplify community commitment to include
music education as part of a quality education for all children.
The NAMM foundation and its music education advocacy efforts work to
ensure that all children have access to quality music education
program that encourage lifelong participation in music making. This
year's roster of musical schools represents 29 states with New York,
New jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia representing the
most districts.
Hundreds of teachers, school and district administrators, school
board members, parents and community leaders, representing
communities in all 50 states, participated in the Web-based survey.
The districts were measured across a variety of program support,
curricular and programmatic criteria. Furthermore, the results were
measured proportionally, so that communities of different sizes were
compared equally.
Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about
funding, enrollment, student/teacher ratios, music class
participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music
program, private music lesson participation, and other relevant
factors in their communities' music education programs. The
responses were verified with district officials, and the sponsoring
organizations reviewed the data.
Luehrsen also noted that throughout the survey's eight years,
several districts have reported that making the "Best Communities"
list has had a tangible effect on their ability to preserve music
for their students. This year, recipients cited increased enrollment
in music programs and more support from parents and community
members as they realize the physical, mental and emotional value
music education brings to students.
Research reveals strong correlations between quality music
education in school and academic achievement.
“Between the Wars: A Living
Timeline” was performed on
Friday, May 30, in the high school auditorium to a packed house. A gallery reception in the lobby
followed the program with Fine Art Academy students presenting
original music, dance, literature and visual art creations. The idea
for this show began as a small, well-designed collaboration between the
Monticello Central School District Chamber Music Program and the
Weekend of Chamber Music (WCM), two music organizations established
to show the artistic abilities of young and old alike. Within recent
months, the partnership has evolved into a full-scale,
interdisciplinary project.
Click here to read
the complete press release and summary about the project written by
students Joe Michel and Mary Setren.
Click here to visit the Global Village Music Department page (please
note, to gain access you must click on the "Login as a guest"
button).
Click here to view the story by Richard Ross, courtesy the River
Reporter.
Monticello Schools hosts the NYSSMA Festival
for the second year in a row
The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Solo and
Ensemble Festival is a festival for students to be evaluated on
their musical performance. Students prepare a solo piece with
their music teachers and then perform it for a certified judge.
The festival allows students to get written evaluations from
professionals about how they play, what they do well, and what
they can do to improve their skills.
About 2,500 students attended the festival on May 16 and 17,
with 52 schools represented and about 32 judges from around the
region. Monticello Schools’ Music Director Dr. Kevin Dirth
volunteered to host this huge event because there was no school
in Sullivan County hosting a festival this year. According to
Dirth, he volunteered to ensure there was a local school
participating so residents wouldn’t have to travel a long
distance.
Each year, there are several of these festivals around the
state. Monticello Schools was the festival site for Zone 9,
which includes the counties of Sullivan, Rockland, Ulster,
Orange, and Greene. Students also come to these festivals to
audition for the All-State Music Festival, which is held in
December of each year. The students with the highest scores are
eligible for the All-State Festival.
Monticello High School's
spring musical, The Sound of Music, was performed on April 11 and 12,
to delighted audience members
This year’s production of one of the most
beloved musicals of all time by Rodgers and Hammerstein was
beautifully performed by Monticello High School's talented young
actors and actresses. Based on
the 1959 Broadway hit, the story is set in 1938 Austria (around
WWII) and is based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers.
The lead rolls were played by
Dan Cunningham as Captain Von Trapp and Juliana D'Abbraccio as
Maria.
Photo: from left,
Emma Cohen as Elsa; Dan Cunningham as the captain; and Frank Segro
as Max.
Monticello is alive with ‘The Sound of Music’
Story and photo by Richard Ross, Courtesy The River Reporter
MONTICELLO, NY — For those who are
aficionados of fine high school theatre, the time has come again to
attend a wonderful production as Monticello High School gets set to
stage Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘The Sound of Music” in the Arnold
Packer Auditorium on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at 7:30
p.m.
 Year in and year out, Monticello High
School’s productions are enthralling, rife with talent, stunning
with their costumes and wonderful sets and sonorous with their fine
orchestration and singing.
This year’s show stars Julianna D’Abbraccio as Maria and Daniel
Cunningham as Captain Von Trapp in the musical directed by Jennifer
Romano, who also served as choreographer. Audiences will be
enchanted by Monticello’s fine musical renditions of such favorites
as “My Favorite Things,” “The Sound of Music,” Sixteen Going on
Seventeen,” and “The Lonely Goatherd,” among others. Producer Dr.
Kevin Dirth provides the theatre orchestra direction and vocal music
director Snezana Lazich guides the show’s classic numbers. Amy
Abraham is the accompanist and Tim Buckley designed the sets and
oversaw their construction. No Monticello production would be quite
the same without the costumes by Ann Carmeci.
Click here for the full story.
Click here for the complete photo album of the production
(photo album CDs of the show are available for purchase by sending a
check for $22.50 to The River Reporter, P.O. Box 150, Narrowsburg,
NY 12764).
Photo: Singing “Edelweiss,” and then “So, Long Farewell” at a
concert, the Von Trapp family prepares to make its escape from the
Nazi occupied Austria to Switzerland. Pictured are young Gretl
(Linda Seminario) front left, Brigitta (Lauren Katz), far left, Kurt
(Tyler Wuerthner), Friedrich (Erik Mayberg), Marta (Sarah Klein),
Louisa (Marina Lombardi), Liesl (Daria Coney), Captain Georg Von
Trapp (Daniel Cunningham) and Maria VonTrapp, formerly Maria Rainer
(Julianna D’Abbraccio).
NYSCA award
allows chamber music collaboration
Through a very competitive Arts Partners Challenge Grant
recently received by Monticello
High School and Tri-Valley Central, the schools will have the
opportunity to once again host the Weekend of Chamber Music (WCM)
to work with their chamber music students.
The grant is provided through the
NYSCA Local Capacity Building Initiative of the Arts in Education
Program, administered by the Westchester Arts Council.
Pictured from left are WCM’s
Communications Director Terry Schommer; Westchester County
Legislator Lois Bronz; Monticello Central School's Director of Music
Dr. Kevin Dirth; WAC Board Member & Education Committee co-chair
Hannah Schmerler, and Tri-Valley performing arts teacher Regina
Hartman at the recent awards ceremony held in White Plains.
A Wellspring of Talent
Dozens of Monticello
School Students Chosen to Perform at All-County
 The
Monticello Central School District announces 128 students who
were selected to perform in the All-County Music Festival,
hosted this year by the Tri-Valley Central Schools. The students
were selected from the following schools – Monticello High
School, RJK Middle School, KLR Elementary School, Duggan
Elementary School, and Chase Elementary School. After intensive
rehearsals, these students will perform in one of two concerts
on March 8 at Tri Valley. The ensembles will be led by guest
conductors from various parts of the region, who will share with
the students their wealth of knowledge and experience as top
professionals in their field. The selected Monticello students
and the ensembles in which they will perform are as follows:
Junior High Jazz Ensemble: A.J. Nittoli, Aishe Brodie,
Brian Jersey, Daniel Sisco and Charlotte Ference.
String Orchestra: Rebecca Perlman, Justine Raymond, Daria
Coney, Maria Pavese, Aria Shafai, Arielle Chin,
Lauren Katz, Paulina Pavese, Taylor Fasce, Elli Kyprianou,
Rachel Zager, Daniel Cook, Victoria Walters-Lemenze, Nicole
Ryan, Jacqueline O’Rourke, Brittany Knapp, Kaila Smithem, Anjuli
Bryant, Juliana D’Abbraccio, Carlye Benson, Ruby Hong, Kelly
Pfeister, Owen Goodman, Lauren Byrne, Joshua Oates, Huiwon Lee,
Jessica Simpson, Jessica Nesin, Aimee Pelosi, Daniel Braunstein
and Jennifer Giza.
Elementary Chorus: Linda Seminario, Aleah Vir, M’Kayla
Morgan, Marie Cruz, Allura DeGraw, Shandell Jones, Natasiana
Small, Anthony Rizzuto, Andrew Nagoda, Nicholas Koenig, Courtney
Swensen, Brianna Smyth, Kaytlynn Kean, Angela Laba, Christopher
Sprague, Gwen Nieves, Anthony Lombardi, Shelby Cooper, Jordana
Maraj, Katie Michel, Ashlynn Barbarite, Domonique Simms, Jaclyn
Bellamy, Esther Hong, David Ambra, Lily McCausland, Kristy
Gessmanm, Roxanne Osorio, Destiny Ortiz, Jane Hyman, Nessiah
Clark, Alec Wood, Ocean Heintz, Megan McCormick and Javaan
Bolden.
Junior High Chorus: Kristen Druse, Katie Fishler, Cassi
Smithem, Rachel Klein, Nicole Nittoli, Marcella Fernandez, De’Ja
Taylor, Bryana Sewell, Karla Leon, Kathleen McGruder, Trevor
Fraser, Jacob Martin, Malik Murray, Cahill Hyacinthe, Angelo
Heimowitz, Shane Jackson, David Fishler, Peter Chocolate, Jaime
Alejandro, Conner McCausland, Kimi San Miguel, Robby Garay,
Matthew Young, Robert Kerstner and Marcus Daniels-Penn.
Middle School Band: Jordan Fredell, Brittany Rupp,
Makayla Mendels, David Bennettm, Luis Torres, Ryan Schaver,
Adrian Galeas and Andrew Krotje.
High School Band: Chelsea Brennan, Hayley Brennan,
Victoria Dunlap, Richard Jersey, Kathryn Justus, Joseph Santelli,
Scott Bock, Kyle Lounsbury, Shannon Thomas, Christian Giunta,
Erik Mayberg and Jesse Martinez.
Women’s Chorus: Julie Crance, Crystal Dempsey, Katryna
Rockicki, Mae Bonnaci, Yasmine Gandullo, Raychelle Gandy, Aimee
Rice, Annie Purcell, Taylor Knapp, Saige Sanford, Chaya
Barasch-Grose and Taylor Santos.
Photo: From left, Marina Lombardi, Aria Shafai, Rebecca
Perlman and Justine Raymond practice with the Monticello High
School Chamber Orchestra. The four students have all been chosen
to perform at this year’s All-County Music Festival.
A Holiday Gift
of Music
Monticello
High School band and chorus give live performance for U.S.
Troops in Iraq
Following the spirited tradition of USO performers who have been
brightening the holiday season for lonely GIs since the 1940s,
the music departments from five local
 school
districts united on Thursday, Dec. 20, to present a special
holiday concert for the U.S. troops in Iraq. Unlike the USO -
which for safety reasons must perform concerts in designated
safe zones – modern video conferencing technology enabled the
schools to bring this concert directly to members of the 3rd
Infantry Division serving on the front lines in Iraq.
The Songs for Troops Concert began at the Chester Academy with a
flag presentation by a five-man military color-guard from the
Warwick VFW Post 4662. During the multi-location concert, each
of the participating bands and choral groups took turns
performing a selection of songs.
The musical performances were be broadcast live to Iraq using
the Orange-Ulster BOCES’ Internet Protocol video conferencing
bridge that connected to video equipment in each of the schools.
Organizers dedicated the day’s performances to a young soldier,
Sgt. Samuel E. Kelsey, who was killed in battle on Dec. 13, as a
way to honor him and his fallen comrades.
For the students in the band and chorus at Monticello High
School, the day was filled
with nervous excitement, as they awaited their turn to perform.
One ninth-grade saxophonist Kyle Ruperd, summed it up when he
explained that though they were prepared to play, many of the
students were filled with nervous excitement, as they wanted to
perform their best for the troops. Kyle personally hoped that
their performance would help ease the homesick feeling many of
our soldiers might be feeling during the holiday season.
At noon, the MHS Concert Band sprang to life as conductor Aaron
Rovitz gave the cue. Students then proceeded to wow the troops
with their dynamic version of the “Theme from S.W.A.T.”
When the Monticello High School Mixed Chorus began its lineup of
songs, you could see smiles on the faces of the soldiers as they
enjoyed the melodic performance. The Monticello program ended
with a candlelit version of “Silent Night” that brought tears to
the eyes of many on both sides of the planet.
When the two hour event ended, more than 500 local music
students had participated in the performances. Besides
Monticello and Chester, Minisink Valley, Port Jervis and Warwick
Valley Schools had all contributed to the success of the day.
The holiday concert was organized by Chester Middle School
Principal Ernest Jackson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who
served most of his military career in the 3rd Infantry Division.
The Times-Herald Record videotaped Monticello’s performance. To
view it, please
click here.
Photo 1: From left,
Monticello High School senior Victoria Dunlap played the French
horn and sang in the chorus. For her the day was very personal,
as some of her older friends will be joining the army this
spring. Ninth graders Shannon Thomas, Brandon Rieber and Kyle
Ruperd were ready to play from their hearts. The students
expressed how it was important to them that the troops enjoy the
music.
Photo 2: The Monticello High School Mixed Chorus, led by music
teacher Snezana Lazich, sang a variety of classical and holiday
songs.
Photo 3: Monticello Director of Music Dr. Kevin Dirth helped
organize the Sullivan County end of things with help from
district technology wizards Dennis DePasquale and David Linton.
The techies worked countless hours during the week prior to the
performance to ensure that the day’s event went smoothly and
without a glitch.
Click here for Richard Ross' coverage of this event
(courtesy The River Reporter).
Student performance filled with laughs
The Monticello High
School Theatre Department presented the comedy drama,
 You Can't Take It With You,
during mid-December. Students shined with talent as they commanded
the stage of the high school auditorium. The performance was well
received by enthusiastic audiences.
The original play opened in New York City in
December 1936 to instant critical and popular acclaim. The story
relates the humorous encounter between a conservative family and the
crazy household of Grandpa Martin Vanderhof – a group of individuals
who amuse with their energetic physical antics and inspire with
their wholehearted pursuit of happiness.
Among the large cast, lead players included Jennifer Shickle, Zach
Gibson, Rebecca Perlman, Dan Cunningham, Erik Mayberg, and Frank
Segro, with Jennifer Romano directing the show. Tim Buckley and Dan Svarczkopf are designing and overseeing set construction, lighting
and sound. The show is produced by Monticello’s Director of Music
Dr. Kevin Dirth.
A complete photo album of the play performance
is available from journalist Richard Ross (Courtesy The
River Reporter). To view the photo
album, visit
www.riverreportersports.com, then click Photos, then
Latest Albums, then You Can’t Take It With You.
CD's of the photo compilation can
be also be purchased directly from The River Reporter.
Click here to read The River Reporter's rave review about the
play performance!
RJK
Middle School students frolic with fun in Wonderland
In early November, Monticello
Schools’ Music Department and Robert J. Kaiser Middle School
presented Lewis Carroll’s light-hearted play Alice in Wonderland Jr.
RJK students gave a funny and engaging performance of the musical
comedy that follows the adventures of Alice after she falls down a
rabbit hole. The night was bursting with young, talented voices as
Alice was forced to use magic potions, cakes, and mushrooms to
change from
 small
to large and back again, while dealing with new acquaintances such
as Mock Turtle, March Hare, Dormouse, and the King and Queen of
Hearts.
The show was a big hit with audience members who were delighted by
the quality of the performance that seemed to whisk them away into
another time. Amongst the crowd were parents donning flowers for
their budding young starlets.
This year’s play was directed and choreographed by Jennifer Romano,
with music teacher Snezana Lazich as the choral director. The show
was produced by the Director of Monticello’s Music Department, Dr.
Kevin Dirth.
Photos
1: This trio of eighth-grade friends and performers were excited
about their roles together in the
 school
play. From left, Kristen Druse played Alice, Olivia Shope played a
flower named Rose, and Rachelle Walker sang and danced the evening
away as a chorus member.
2: From left, Cheshire Cats David Fishler, Jonathan Harned and
Anthony Lombardi strike a pose as part of their pre-play warm-up.
3: In order for Alice to fit into the
small places she encountered during her Wonderland
adventure, she had to be shrunken down to a tiny size using magical
potions. Pictured left is
Katie Michel, who was just the right size to play the part of Small
Alice. With her are her sixth-grade friends and fellow actresses
Kayla Greco who played a blossoming flower; Jaclyn Bellamy, who
sparkled as a caterpillar who turns into a butterfly; and Trisha
Yearwood who swam easily through her role as a fish!
Photo 4: During their final bow, the
young performers were ecstatic and thrilled by the audience’s
response to their performance.
Outstanding Monticello High School music students secure a place in
regional and state performances
Monticello High School had
three students chosen to perform in the prestigious
Area All-State Music Festival scheduled for November 16-17 at
Monroe-Woodbury High School. These students were chosen from more
than 1,000 applicants from Zone 9, which includes Rockland,
Sullivan, Orange, Ulster and Greene Counties.
Selections were based on their outstanding solo audition scores from
last spring’s NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo
evaluation festival. Students will meet with their counterparts at
Monroe-Woodbury on November 16, for a five-hour intensive rehearsal.
The students will return on November 17, for continued rehearsals,
which will culminate in two performances.
The ensembles will be led by guest conductors form various parts of
the country, who will also share with the students their wealth of
knowledge and experience as top professionals in their field.
The selected Monticello High School students are
(pictured in order from left):
2007 Area All-State Women’s Chorale: Rachel Zager
2007 Area All-State Orchestra: Rebecca Perlman
2007 Area All-State Band: Christian Giunta
As
an added honor, Monticello High School senior Christian Giunta, was
also selected to participate in the
All-State Mixed Choir of the New York State All State Music
Festival, which will be held in Rochester on November
29-December 2.
Christian was selected out of thousands
who auditioned for this honor in the spring of 2007.
Local music director
saves Boston Pops show
Rock Hill - "All That Jazz" wouldn't be the same without the
trombone sliding note-to-note in the chorus.
So thank a guy at a local music store and a school music director
for making sure Sunday night's
Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performance at the Bethel Woods
Center for the Arts went off without a hitch.
The saga began when James Nova, the trombonist slated to solo in
"All That Jazz" during the encore, arrived at Stewart International
Airport two hours and 15 minutes before curtain - but his trombone
didn't.
Cliff Schwartz works at his brother's store, Steve's Music, in Rock
Hill. He was at the store at 4:45 p.m. and got the frantic call from
Bethel Woods' production manager, James Reilly, and another from one
of the Pops' people.
"We try to do what we can to help Bethel Woods," Schwartz said.
Now, Steve's Music has student-model trombones, but doesn't carry
the sort of high-end horn a professional would use. So Cliff
Schwartz called Kevin Dirth.
Dirth is going into his fifth year as music director of Monticello
schools. Before that gig, when he lived in Vermont, he played
trombone professionally in big bands and other groups.
"He generously offered to let us borrow his own personal trombone,"
Schwartz said.
"There was no hesitation," Dirth says. "Being a professional myself,
I can understand the situation."
But he'd just gotten back from vacation, so first Dirth had to
retrieve his Bach 36B from his office at Monticello High School.
Then he met up with Schwartz, who drove the trombone to Bethel
Woods.
"It was funny," Schwartz says. "It was like 'Mission: Impossible.'"
At 6 p.m., Schwartz drove up to the concert hall, left the car
running (with his mom inside) and ran the trombone backstage.
"I arrived with the trombone just as he arrived from the airport,"
Schwartz said.
The hand-off was complete. Nova went to warm up for the 7 p.m.
concert.
Schwartz and his mom grabbed some dinner, then settled in for the
concert. They already had tickets, since they had planned to go to
the performance before the brass adventure started. And just maybe
there was a little extra enjoyment when Nova's solo came around.
"Everything worked out very nicely," Schwartz said. "And he sounded
great."
Photo: Kevin Dirth, director
of music for Monticello schools, left, and Cliff Schwartz, of
Steve's Music Center in Rock Hill, were instrumental in saving the
day for Sunday's program at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
- Reprinted with permission from the Times Herald-Record -
story by Heather Yakin; photo by Dominick Fiorille - August 21, 2007
-
World class music
delights and informs
Shandelee reaches out in more ways than one
HARRIS, NY – For the past 14 years The Shandelee Music Festival has
brought some of the world’s finest young musicians to Sullivan
County to play on the Steinway grand piano in the Sunset Concert
Pavilion, delighting concertgoers with a caliber of music they would
otherwise have to travel far and wide to hear. But given the
constraints imposed by ticket prices, seating availability and the
mobility needed to get to the festival site, many people have never
heard such performances locally, something that has greatly
concerned festival president Daniel Stroup and his longstanding
artistic director Lana Ivanov. So for the past four years, the
festival has sought to reach out to the community in a variety of
ways to access segments of the population that would otherwise never
get to hear the sounds heard at Shandelee. To that end, the
Shandelee Music Festival’s Outreach Program has offered a concert
for area school students each spring, replete with a chance to meet
and interact with young rising artists who answer questions about
their piano studies and the works they are performing. They make the
experience up-close and personal for the host of fifth- through
12th-graders who listen attentively to every note and word.
In addition, each summer, festival public relations director Barbara
Konvalin has brought several young virtuosos to the Skilled Nursing
Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) to perform for the
patients there in a program arranged with CRMC Community Relations
Director Jodi Goodman.
On August 6, the patients were transfixed by the music of arguably
the best group of young musicians to visit the hospital since the
Outreach Program began. Elena Maraztchyska began with a stunning and
emotional rendering of Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy. Born in Bulgaria,
she was a 2007 winner of the MNTA National Prize Auditions and won a
Steinway grand piano. She has spent the last three years living in
Las Vegas. She was followed by Violetta Koss of Manhattan, whose
mother works here in Sullivan County. The 16-year-old attends
LaGuardia High School. She performed the Intermezzo No. 2 in B-flat
Minor by Brahms. Rodion Efremov emigrated to the United States at
age six. He is currently a freshman at the Peabody Conservatory in
Baltimore, MD. Efremov played Chopin’s Etude Opus 10, Number 4 and
Rachmaninoff’s Etude Tableau Opus 39, No. 1. The patients sat and
listened to his performance, as to the others, with a degree of
attention previously unobserved by this writer in former years at
the Skilled Nursing Unit. Doris Lee delighted her rapt listeners
with Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 31 No. 2 and Franz Liszt’s Grande
Etudes de Paganini S15, No. 5. The 15-year-old world-traveling
artist is a name that piano audiences will hear more of in years to
come. Anna Fedorova played Ravel’s Albrada del gracioso with fervor
and pizzazz. Miraztchyska and Radion then accompanied her for a
delightful trio performance on one piano of Johann Strauss’
Kunstlerleben.
This past spring, following an enthusiastic reaction to the student
concert at the college for area kids, Stroup and Ivanov decided it
was time to implement the third part of the outreach program, namely
opening the festival’s facilities, teachers and classes to student
pianists to offer them lessons every other day; the practice
cottages, each with its own Steinway; master classes; and a chance
to perform in concert. On August 13, the five students, who have
spent the first of two weeks immersed in the festival experience,
came to WJFF to be interviewed on Monday Afternoon Classics with
Gandalf, which aired at its regular time of 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Dana Burkart, a recent graduate of Fallsburg High School, is bound
for RIT in the fall. The 18-year-old pianist has been studying for
the past six years. Like the other four students from Sullivan
County, he has been acclimating himself to the rigors of practice
that requires not only time, but focus.
Jessica Nesin, an eighth grader from Robert J. Kaiser Middle School,
has studied with Ann Trombley for the past seven years. Nesin, a
veteran of NYSSMA competitions in piano (three years), violin (two
years) and voice (one year) was born in Tbilisi, in the Republic of
Georgia. Asked about her experience with the Shandelee Festival this
summer, Nesin noted, “I hope to improve my technique.” She has found
the teachers to be most helpful and encouraging.
Ruby Hong will be entering her freshman year at Monticello High
School this fall. She described her first week at the festival as
“different, unforgettable and unique.” Learning to practice by
concentrating on parts that need work rather than running through
the entire piece has been helpful, as has the opportunity to have a
lesson every other day instead of once a week. Ryan Cerullo is
entering his senior year at Liberty High School, and is looking
forward to attending college to study music education, perhaps at
Ithaca, Potsdam, Fredonia or Eastman. Cerullo also plays the bassoon
and other woodwinds and has performed with the Liberty High School
Jazz Band at Bethel Woods for the past two years. Stephan Gagnon
recently graduated from Monticello High School and is interested in
composing. He is strongly moved and influenced by the music of
Chopin. “I love this place,” he said, referring to the Shandelee
Music Festival. It is the first opportunity he has had to avail
himself of personal lessons. Gagnon notes that the practice regimen
is something he will continue once his summer program is over.
Cerullo and Nesin are performing at a sold-out concert in the Sunset
Pavilion on August 13. Gagnon, Hong and Burkhart will perform on
August 18. Some seating is still available for that concert. Call
the box office at 845/439-3277. Given the efforts of the Shandelee
Music Festival to share its fine musicianship with audiences,
students and the infirm, it is clear that the world-renowned concert
venue is also becoming a treasured resource for Sullivan County.
Photo:
Sullivan County students
chosen to study and perform at the 2007 Shandelee Music Festival
include Ruby Hong, front left, from Monticello High School; Jessica
Nesin of the Robert J. Kaiser Middle School; Stephan Gagnon, back
left, a recent graduate of Monticello High School; Ryan Cerullo of
Liberty High School; and Dana Burkart, a recent graduate of
Fallsburg High School.
- Reprinted from The River Reporter - story & photo by Richard A.
Ross -
Rutherford students
chosen to sing with professional opera company
Fifteen students from the Rutherford Elementary School, along with
their music teacher Amy Abraham, will be singing in the Hudson Opera
Theatre's production of “Carmen” this summer.
Mrs. Abraham, a member of the opera company, has been working with
her students, diligently training and preparing them for the
production's children’s chorus. Students had to audition to get into
the chorus and those who qualified have been rehearsing with Mrs.
Abraham at school. In July, they will join the opera company for
rehearsals and performances, under the direction of Ron DeFesi.
Public performances will be various dates from July 22 through
August 12. For more information or to
purchase tickets, visit the opera website at
www.hotopera.com
or call 661-0544.
The students involved are Ashlynn
Barbarite, Ynez Berg-Jones, Marie Cruz, Precious Ellis, Zakirah
Garvey, Katie Michel, M’kayla Morgan, Gwen Nieves, Destiny Ortiz,
Courtney Parlapiano, Shivani Patel, Skye Rundle, Jordan Santiago,
Yahaira Santiago-Morales, Linda Seminario, and Aleah Vir.
High School Choir sings for
community event
On Saturday, May 12, Monticello High School’s Renaissance Choir,
lead by Choral Director Snezana Lazich, sang a variety of songs at
the historic plaque dedication honoring the Smith family.
The ceremony, which was overseen by NY State Chief Justice Judith
Kaye, was at the site of the former Smith Brothers Farm in the Town
of Thompson. Kaye, who is Benjamin Smith’s daughter, is also a
graduate of Monticello High School.
Lazich, who is new to the high school
music program, is trying to expand the chorus's involvement in more
community activities.
Monticello School
District Named a Best Community for Music Education
-Nationwide Survey Finds School Districts
Committed to Music Education as a Conduit for
Success in School and in Life-
For the eighth year in a row, a survey conducted by a partnership of
leading music and educational organizations has identified the “Best
100 Communities for Music Education in America,” and the 2007 list
includes the Monticello School District in Monticello, NY for its
unwavering commitment to school-based music programs. The survey was
sponsored by the NAMM Foundation and its American Music Conference (AMC)
division that work to promote the benefits of active participation
in music and music education.
 While music education has been linked to higher SAT scores, math
grades and future success in life, the survey also found that many
students hailing from a ‘Best 100’ community have continued their
musical pursuits professionally as educators, or playing for
renowned symphonies, opera houses, orchestras and on Broadway.
Several former students have even become acclaimed recording
artists. In addition, the results show that students from “Best 100”
school districts have a better appreciation of music and become
life-long consumers of music – either through attendance at
concerts, continued performance on their instruments, etc.
Thousands of teachers, school and district administrators, school
board members, parents and community leaders, representing
communities in all 50 states, participated in the Web-based survey.
The 2007 roster includes school districts from 31 states that are
committed to quality music education programs and providing access
to music education. The districts were measured across a variety of
program support, curricular and programmatic criteria. Because the
criteria in the survey are measured proportionally, large
communities and small ones are able to participate on an equal
footing.
Monticello’s Director of
Music Dr. Kevin Dirth applied for the award after an independent
music consulting firm evaluated the district’s program and found it
to be one of the best they had ever seen.
The firm continued to say, “We find the music education currently
being delivered to (Monticello) students to be generally excellent
and in many cases outstanding. The overall philosophy of the music
department, the delivery of the general music program and the
elective and ensemble offerings are some of the best we’ve seen. We
find strength in both the staff and a very supportive
administration.”
For Dirth, he
and his staff have worked very hard for this honor. “If you look at
the list of schools who have won this award, they all have excellent
and strong music programs that are well respected, with a broad
array of offerings, a lot of support, and who send high quality
students out into the world,” stated Dirth. “We are so proud to be
acknowledged with them.”
Monticello Central School District’s
Board of Education and administrative officials were honored to
receive such a prestigious award highlighting its music department
for outstanding programming and performances, especially since the
district has strived to create and keep its music department as one
of the top-rated, cutting edge programs in the region. At its March
15 meeting, the Board of Education declared March to be Music in our
Schools Month and awarded each teacher in the music department an
award certificate for his/her gallant efforts and great
accomplishments.
“Monticello’s music department has
top-notch teachers who have created an environment of creativity,
learning and exploration, so that students can express themselves
musically and excel to their full potentials,” stated Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel. “We are very proud of them.”
Many students have graduated from Monticello High School and have
gone on to have successful careers in music and music education. A
few notable names include: opera singer Stephanie Blythe, Julliard
School of Music student Andrew Trombley and Monticello music teacher
Aaron Rovitz, who graduated from Monticello High School six years
ago and has come back to teach in the middle and high schools after
receiving his Bachelor of Music from SUNY Fredonia.
Under Dirth’s guidance, the 13 district teachers are as follows: Amy
Abraham, Ellen Alewitz, Peri Berman, Dawn Clayton, Tom Fadden, Karen
Laufersweiler, Snezana Lazich, Michael Mingo Aaron Rovitz, Ann
Trombley, Linda Van Norman, Joyce Wells and Nancy Wegrzyn. More
information about each teacher can be found at the bottom of this
page.
Click here to
watch the Cable 6 TV News coverage of this event with Tracy Baxter.
Video provided by CAP Productions
of Middletown.
High School music department
goes high-tech
A new high tech music lab equipped with cutting-edge software is
helping students prepare for careers in the music industry.
Specialized programs such as Finale 2006, Garage Band and Audiation
are now being used as part of the curriculum – helping students
enhance their skills in music theory, composition, editing,
recording and listening.
 Since the new lab was installed this
past August, district music
teachers have been investing countless
hours to learn the new software programs. Ultimately, they will save
precious teaching time for
more advanced learning, as the nine-station computer lab setup
allows students to practice their basic drills on their own, such as
identifying intervals, chords or rhythm patterns.
Monticello's Director of Music Dr.
Kevin Dirth, hopes the new lab will attract even more students to
take music classes, as well as give those already in the program new
experiences they otherwise would not receive.
Monticello MUSAK
District phone
system is playing our songs
If you've called a school
/district office recently and were placed on hold, you've
heard Monticello's own version of MUSAK.
Unlike most school districts that connect their telephone
systems to electronic "elevator" music, Monticello has
created its own version of MUSAK, using musical selections
from past Monticello High School concerts. The music you
hear highlights the talents of the High School's various
performing groups.
While feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, several
people have complained. . .It seems
that they love the music so much, they don't want to be
taken off hold!!
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