High school sophomore receives scholarship award

Originally published in The Long Island Herald, Glen Head / Sea Cliff edition

Mairead Colby, a sophomore at North Shore High School, is a recipient of The Nassau Music Educators Association Durrell Blank Scholarship for study at the New York State Summer School of the Arts

Colby, 14, has been singing ever since she learned to talk when she discovered her true passion. She currently studies voice under the direction of Jared Berry and also studies with voice coach Patti Dunham, of Sea Cliff. Colby sings with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra’s Nassau Symphonic Choir under the direction of Louise O’Hanlon, of Glen Head. In summer 2016, Colby attended the New York State Summer School of the Arts, School of Choral Studies at SUNY Fredonia. She will return to this intensive choral program again for the summer of 2017 where she studies under the direction of Dr. Hugh Ferguson, Professor of Music at Furman University, Coordinator of Choral Ensembles and Director of the renowned Furman Singers.

Colby recently performed in the American Choral Director’s Senior Honor Choir for its National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She auditioned to be included in this highly competitive vocal experience with only three sopranos selected from high school students in New York State. This year’s National Honor Choir worked with Grammy winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre.