Fifteen students who won scholarships to attend the Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) recently completed the school’s four-week Summer Arts Academy.
These exceptional young talents (ages 13-17) were selected for this program based on their audition videos, showcasing their dedication and passion for the arts with a focus on music.
The recipients each have a diverse range of talent and interests in the music field. Nine of the students performed in the Musical Theatre Production program as part of the cast of Disney’s “Finding Nemo, Jr.” which was produced by LIHSA Instructor and Musical Theatre Director Chris Brick and Visiting Artist and Musical Director Adam Tilford. The other recipients learned ensemble and performance techniques in the Art of the Band with musical director and grammy nominated jazz guitarist Tom Guarna and enhanced their audio production and recording techniques with LIHSA Music Instructor Alex Vietheer. This unique summer program allows students the chance to perform as an ensemble as well as record their own performances in LIHSA’s own professional grade recording studio.
Lindsay Rogan, LIHSA Assistant Principal and Summer Coordinator, said, “We are thrilled to welcome these talented students to the Summer Arts Academy. Their dedication and creativity are commendable, and we look forward to nurturing their artistic growth and inspiring their future accomplishments.”
The scholarship winners, their school district and Summer Program at LIHSA, are listed below:
Ashlee Fucarino, Wantagh UFSD - Musical Theatre
Addison DeFalco, Islip UFSD - Musical Theatre
Anaya Mackey, Hempstead UFSD - Music (Art of Band)
Cooper DaSilva, East Meadow UFSD - Musical Theatre
Grace Araoz, Locust Valley CSD - Musical Theatre
Harry Diner, Harborfields CSD - Music (Art of Band)
Jarod Hirsch, Smithtown UFSD - Musical Theatre
Leo Goldstein, Glen Cove City SD - Musical Theatre
Marc Tosi, Garden City UFSD - Music (Art of Band)
Maria D’Angelo, Levittown UFSD - Musical Theatre
Marilena Castoro, Smithtown UFSD - Musical Theatre
Olivia Carmody, East Meadow UFSD - Musical Theatre
Patrick Kiernan, Seaford UFSD - Music (Art of Band)
Stephanie Callan, Hicksville UFSD - Music (Art of Band)
Angelo Roussis, Westbury UFSD - Music (Art of Band)
The scholarships, made possible through the support of The Joel Foundation, enable these young individuals to embark on a transformative artistic musical journey. The Summer Arts Academy provides a platform for these students to immerse themselves in their craft, guided by LIHSA’s team of seasoned faculty members.
The Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts extends its warmest congratulations to the scholarship recipients and its heartfelt gratitude to The Joel Foundation for their commitment to fostering artistic excellence and providing invaluable opportunities to young, aspiring musical artists.
