Senior Scholarships

MYO Senior Scholarships

2024 SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS

We are proud to offer merit-based scholarships to graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding musicians, dedicated service to MYO, and have plans to major in music at college (including the fields of Music Administration, Business, Composition, Education, Performance, Recording, and Therapy). Performance includes instrumental and vocal performance, as well as Musical Theatre.
Applications for the following scholarships will be available by Monday, April 1, 2024:

2022-2023 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Amanda Falls, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale
Gail and Molly Madigan Memorial Scholarship
Eastman School of Music for Vocal Performance

Theresa Jiao, Violin
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Stanford University Double Major in Mathematics and Music

Katlyn Smith, Violin
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Ramon Guerrero Memorial Scholarship
University of Notre Dame Double Major in Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics and Music

Sofia Tsahalis, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Peabody Institute at John Hopkins University for Vocal Performance

2021-2022 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Elizabeth Benkert, Viola
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at Penn State

Michelle Cuocci, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale
Gail and Molly Madigan Memorial Scholarship
Musical Theatre Studies at Sacred Heart University

Aviv Fetaya, Tenor
Nassau Chamber Chorale
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Music Composition at Yale University

Antonia Harvey, Soprano
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
Musical Theatre at LIU Post

Jayde Molfetto, Soprano
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
MYO Senior Scholarship
Vocal Performance at Hartt School of Music

Emma Musial, Viola
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Ramon Guerrero Memorial Scholarship
Viola Performance at SUNY Purchase

Lara Tsibelman, Flute
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Flute Performance at Cleveland Institute of Music

Tina Zhao, Violin
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Music Performance at Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin

2020-2021 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Leo Cronan, Tenor
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Vocal Performance and Political Science at Bard College and Conservatory

Vanessa Cruz, Violin
Nassau Symphony Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam

Enzo Cupani, Bass Voice
Nassau Chamber Chorale
Gail and Molly Madigan Memorial Scholarship
Music Industry at Syracuse University

Kayleigh Di Brico, Violin
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Ramon Guerrero Memorial Scholarship
Violin Performance at New York University

William Dunlop, Principal Oboe
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Oboe Performance at The Juilliard School

Allison Fama, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale and Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
Music Education at Westminster Choir College at Rider University

Gabriella Maresco, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam

Chandler Rosenzweig, Horn
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Music Performance at Berklee College of Music

2019-2020 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Gabrielle Caine, Soprano
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
Music Education at University of Pennsylvania

Emmett Conway, Principal Horn
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Music Performance at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

Nicholas Mango, Bass Voice
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at SUNY Fredonia

Liam McDonald, Percussion
Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Percussion Performance at Manhattan School of Music

Matthew Miller, Trombone
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Ramon Guerrero Memorial Scholarship
SUNY Stony Brook University School of Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music

Rebecca Nelsen, Principal Oboe
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Oboe Performance at Manhattan School of Music

Rachel Schlesinger, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Vocal Performance at University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Benjamin Truncale, Tenor
Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Vocal Performance at The Juilliard School

2018-2019 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Gabriel Alvarado, Tenor
Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at East Carolina University

Timothy DeMott, Tenor
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Music Performance at Berklee College of Music

Jaclyn Koch, Soprano
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
Music Education at SUNY Fredonia

Nicholas Lyons, Cello
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Cello Performance at Stony Brook University

Kayla Sorensen, Alto
Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at SUNY Fredonia

Samuel Taylor, Trumpet
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Music Education at Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin

Christopher Wygonik, Trombone
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Ramon Guerrero Memorial Scholarship
Music Performance at SUNY Purchase

Ju Young Yi, Clarinet
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Clarinet Performance at the Eastman School of Music

2017-2018 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Grace Donofrio, Alto
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam

Claire Ezratty, Cello
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam

Vincent Fasano, Violin and Piano
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music for New Media at Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University

Amelia Libbey, Flute
Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Flute Performance at Eastman School of Music

Matthew Rhee, Cello
Nassau Principal Orchestra
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Music Education and Performance at Gordon College

Alyssa Sposato, Soprano
Suffolk Symphonic Choir
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam

Jessica Staiano, Soprano
Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Musical Theatre at SUNY Fredonia

2016-2017 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Sophie Berman, Soprano and Viola, Suffolk Youth Chorale and Principal Orchestra
Grace McDermott Memorial Scholarship
Vocal Performance at DePauw University

Julianna Curran, Alto, Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education and Vocal Performance at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford

Allison Dana, Oboe, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at SUNY Fredonia

Catherine Daniels, Alto, Suffolk Youth Chorale
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
Vocal Performance at SUNY Fredonia

Daniel Jones, Trumpet, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Trumpet Performance at Eastman School of Music

Jonathan Kobrinsky, Double Bass, Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Music Education at SUNY Fredonia

Michael Verso, Trumpet, Nassau and Suffolk Principal Orchestras
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Music Performance at University of Denver, Lamont School of Music

2015-2016 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

John Burke-McGoldrick, Trombone, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
University of Maryland, College Park in Music Education

Christopher Fludd, Tenor, Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Westminster Choir College in Music Education

Thomas Loomis, Bass, Suffolk Youth Chorale
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music in Music Education

Laura Maila, Violin, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
James Madison University in Violin Performance

Nicholas Mrakovcic, Double Bass, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Manhattan School of Music in Double Bass Jazz Performance

Emily Shallbetter, Soprano, Nassau Chamber Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
University of Maryland, College Park in Vocal Performance


2014-2015 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Esther Chung, Soprano and Violin, Nassau Chamber Chorale and Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Adelphi University in Music Performance and Business

Ethan Fields, Horn, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
SUNY Fredonia in Music Composition and Sound Recording Technology

Emma Haley, Soprano, Nassau Chamber Chorale
Joseph Ferriso Memorial Scholarship
Tufts University in Music Performance and Biochemistry

Simon Lee, Oboe, Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Columbia University in Music and Business Management

Sarah Miller, Cello, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Cleveland Institute of Music in Cello Performance

Nicole Soder, Violin, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Veronica Franco Memorial Scholarship
SUNY Stony Brook in Applied Mathematics and Music


2013-2014 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Taylor Burgess, Soprano, Suffolk Youth Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
SUNY Purchase in Vocal Performance

Alexander Della Ratta, Tuba, Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Hofstra University in Music Education

Kristin DiMonte, Soprano, Nassau Youth Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Seton Hill University in Music and Forensic Science

Nicholas O’Brien, Viola and Composer, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship
Ithaca College in Music Composition

Leah Stevens, Flute, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship
Cleveland Institute of Music in Flute Performance

Joslyn Thomas, Alto, Nassau Youth Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship
Westminster Choir College in Music Education


2012-2013 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Marena Minelli, Violin, Suffok Principal Orchestra
Patrice and Paul Sheldon Scholarship

Shari Paltrowitz, Bassoon, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Felicya Schwarzman, Cello, Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship


2011-2012 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Douglas Aliano, Double Bass, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Kayleigh Rose Cook, Horn, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship

Juliette Elizabeth Incandela, Cello, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship


2010-2011 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Anthony Madonna, Cello, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Emily Brodtman, Double Bass, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship

Alison Verderber, Violin, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship


2009-2010 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Sapphire Greene, Violin, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Lauren Milano, Violin, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship

Leslie Ratner, Horn, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship


2008-2009 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Sara Chudow, Violin, Suffolk Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Dahlia Hassan, Cello, Nassau Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship

Charles Paccione, Violin, Nassau Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship


2007-2008 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Michael Bai, Violin, MYO Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship

Andrew Fund, Cello, MYO Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Robert Sirois, Bassoon, MYO Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship


2006-2007 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Scott Davis, Double Bass, MYO Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship

Naomi Marcus, Percussion, MYO Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Erin Steigerwald, Trumpet, MYO Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship


2005-2006 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Kelvin Chang, Cello, MYO Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship

Leslie Krotman, Soprano, MYO Youth Chorale
MYO Senior Scholarship

Gabrielle Rozenberg, Percussion, MYO Principal Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship


2004-2005 MYO SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Leslie Fink, Trumpet, MYO Principal Orchestra
Paul and Patrice Sheldon Scholarship

Nathaniel Liberty, Viola, MYO Chamber Orchestra
Genelle Taney Memorial Scholarship

Sho Omagari, Violin, MYO Principal Orchestra
MYO Senior Scholarship


 

Joseph Ferriso (dedicatee)

Joseph Ferriso, 1995-2015, played principal horn with the Nassau Principal Orchestra, before graduating high school in 2013. David Stevens, Joseph’s private horn teacher of eight years, recalled the many lessons with him: “He had a very quick wit, confidence, and ability to make everyone feel at ease.” “We feel like we lost a family member and the world definitely lost a true gentleman and role model.”

Veronica Franco (dedicatee)

Veronica Franco, 2001-2014, shared her beautiful voice with the Suffolk Treble Choir and the Suffolk Concert Choir. Treble Choir Director Craig Knapp said “I will never forget March 16, 2013, when sweet Veronica Franco entered the Carnegie Hall stage. She was the first singer to enter the stage, and while most of the audience members were not familiar with Veronica and her brave battle with cancer, they knew something special was about to take place. As Veronica walked across the top riser, the audience began to cheer and as the applause grew loud like a musical crescendo, I smiled and said to Veronica, “That cheering is for you!”

Ramon Guerrero

Ramon Guerrero, 1964-2018, devoted dad to Marcos (tuba player with our Suffolk Principal Orchestra), loving husband to Holly, fiercely loyal and dedicated member of The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York’s Board of Directors, and forever part of our MYO Family. Ramon was the first face and voice of our organization and he made MYO a better and kinder place.

Molly Madigan

Molly Madigan, 2003-2021, shared her angelic voice and kind heart with our Nassau Treble Choir, Concert Choir, Symphonic Choir, and Chamber Chorale. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Nassau Treble Choir in 2015, was a finalist in the 2021 MYO Concerto and Vocal Competition, and was in line to receive a MYO Senior Scholarship and head to her dream school, New York University, to study music education. Molly and her devoted mother Gail, 60, and father Joseph Madigan, 62, passed away during a tragic house fire at their Garden City home on Thursday, May 6, 2021. You can hear Molly singing O mio babbino caro HERE.

Grace McDermott

Grace McDermott, 1990-2017, sang Alto with the MYO Youth Chorale from 2005-2007, under the direction of Michael Kerschner. On the MYO 2006 China Tour, led by MYO Founder and Executive Director Emeritus John C. McNeur, Grace performed as one of the first vocalists ever on a MYO tour, under the direction of MYO Board President Sandra Baskin. Grace spoke about travelling with the MYO tour at such a young age as being a formative experience and essential to developing her independence. She also credited the MYO Tours with leading to her decision to live abroad. Originally from East Islip, Grace was living in Dublin and working towards a communications PhD when she died in a tragic house fire on May 1, 2017. “They say the greatest tragedy is to die and to never have lived — and she lived every second,” her mom Leslie McDermott said. “And we’re blessed for that.”

Genelle B. Taney

Genelle B. Taney was a dedicated MYO Member and 2003 Great Neck North High School graduate who died at age 19, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Genelle is remembered for her “unsurpassed love of knowledge, a dedication to the arts, a passion for athletics, and an endless commitment to the betterment of her school and her fellow classmates.”