The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York
13 Myrtle Street, 2nd Floor
Manhasset, NY 11030
www.myo.org


Students vie for prize money in MYO competition


Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2016
Link to original article: www.theislandnow.com

Two local musicians are among the top 10 finalists in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra’s 2016 Concerto and Vocal Competition.

Joanna Lau, 14, and a Herricks High School student, and Alexandra Woroniecka, 13, of Great Neck South Middle School will be among the elite field when the group performs a free concert this coming Wednesday at the Congregational Church of Huntington in Centerport.

Lau is a finalist as a flutist, while Woroniecka’s chosen instrument is the violin,

“It’s such an honor to be a finalist in this competition and I look forward to being a part of the beautiful music that will be performed in the upcoming concert,” Lau said.

The finalists will perform their competition piece during this week’s performance and the winners will be chosen by an esteemed jury, including Dr. David Fryling, director of Choral Studies at Hofstra University, and Professor Maureen Hynes, director of Orchestra and String Studies at LIU Post.

“Music has always been a part of my life since the day I was born,” said Woroniecka. “After I joined MYO it felt like a family to me because of the many years I participated in it. Having a chance to be able to perform with the orchestra in front of my family would be something I would never forget. It would make me grow into a more mature musician.”

The competition winners, one instrumentalist and one vocalist, will win a cash award in the amount of $500 each. There will also be cash awards for the second ($200) and third ($100) place winners, in both 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 orchestral and choral 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, a flute choir, and seven choral ensembles, serving more than 990 young musicians between the ages of 8 and 18.

For more information, please visit www.myo.org or call (516) 365-6961.

The featured performers are all Long Island-based musicians and MYO members:

Catherine Daniels, soprano, 16, Newfield High School

Amanda Duspiva, soprano,16, Sachem N. High School

Alan Jian, clarinet, 15 Garden City High School

Joanna Lau, flute, 14, Herricks High School

Jeremy Lopez, tenor, 17, Hicksville High School

Noah Mond, tenor, 14, Paul J. Gelinas Jr. High School

Matthew Rhee, cello, 15, Syosset High School

John Sepanski, bassoon, 17, Cold Spring Harbor High School

Benjamin Truncale, tenor, 13, St. Agnes Cathedral School

Alexandra Woroniecka, violin, 13, Great Neck So. M. School