They came from Potsdam and Rome, from Lisbon and Fort Edwards, and from Massena and Beaver Falls. Fifteen exceptional middle school and high school students participated in the second annual Vernice N. Church Challenge for Young Artists on April 13 in Hosmer Hall. The program, sponsored by The Orchestra of Northern New York, gives valuable feedback to teens “pursuing artistic growth” and preparing for the NYSSMA event in May.
Five students from Beaver River Central School sang and each received an amazing music lesson from Donald George, Crane Voice Faculty and ONNY soloist. Other students from around the North Country performed on alto saxophone, cello, violin, trombone, piano, and French horn. They were given expert advice from ONNY musicians about how to maximize their potential at NYSSMA.
Mrs. Church was also in attendance and said she was “thrilled at the music education that happened today.”
Shown here is French horn player Macks Hollis, Lisbon, and the panel of adjudicators. Other local students from Potsdam Central Schools included violinists Sarvesh Sitaraman, Porter Fite, Maxwell Yu and Celeste Darie who also performed on piano, and cellist and pianist Constantine Darie. Massena Central students Nicholas Gilbert on alto sax and Aden Thompson on violin also participated.
