NEWPORT – More than 650 musicians auditioned, and twelve were chosen, including four students from North Smithfield High School and one from Ponaganset High School.
On Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m., Rhode Island’s finest high school musicians will perform at the Newport Classical Recital Hall in the 23rd Annual Rhode Island Honors Recital, sponsored by the Rhode Island Music Education Association.
The high school students represent the highest musical achievement possible following years of study and practice in our schools from Pre-K through graduation, and taught by highly qualified school music teachers and private music instructors, according to a release on the recital. In order to be selected, each student had to perform in the RIMEA Solo-Ensemble Festival in May and receive a Superior and Concert-Ready rating by their adjudicator. The students then had to be selected by another panel of adjudicators following an additional audition a week later. More than 650 original auditionees were in the initial pool, resulting in the final twelve honored performers.
The students performing on Sunday include Adam Harrison, Mariah Joyal, Angelina Parente and Owen Priestly from North Smithfield High School and Logan Maccarone from Ponaganset High School. Other students to perform include Ellie Clark from North Kingstown High School; Michael Cohen from Woonsocket High School; Evan Lei from Cranston West High School; Jack Paiva from The Prout School; Alexander Sulyma from Bishop Hendricken High School; Kylie Tiemeyer from Classical High School and Rachel Williams from Moses Brown.
The 23rd annual recital is dedicated in memory of Dr. Edward Drew, who founded the event in 2001. Drew was born in Boston and was an Rhode Island resident from 1949 until he passed away in 2011. He was a life-long music educator in the state and neighboring Connecticut. Drew worked to promote musical opportunities for students as well as adults. His concept was to form a “retired” branch of the RIMEA. He was a veteran of the Korean War, an educator and an active performer and founder of the Drew-Corcoran Orchestra, performing throughout New England, including bringing music into the schools for young students.
Awesome! NS music program is tops!