Byram Hills High School inducted 14 members of the band, choir and orchestra into the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a recognition of their musical skills and accomplishments, leadership and service.
Director of Fine Arts Marc Beja opened the ceremony on April 15, welcoming the inductees, their families and friends, and school officials. He praised the students as role models in the District for the way they conduct themselves when they are in front of an audience - and when they are not.
“They’re leaders who have shared their musical talents with our community countless times, they’ve achieved top marks in their ensembles at New York State music festival adjudications and in their overall academic program,” he said. “They make our community a more musical and joyful place.”
The honor society, a program of the National Association for Music Education, recognizes students for their accomplishments in music based on musicianship, scholarship, character leadership and service. The organization’s high standards are a reminder of each inductee’s passion, work ethic, service and achievement in the performing arts, said Aaron Lockwood, the Byram Hills orchestra director and Tri-M Music Honor Society adviser.
“The students we will be celebrating tonight are caring, dedicated, hard-working people and musicians,” he said. “They are leaders in our school and continually find ways to share their musical talents with the school and community. They are models of excellence who have masterfully balanced academic, music and service requirements.”
The inductees, Mr. Lockwood said, have displayed leadership in their school ensembles, “showing a high degree of loyalty, cooperation, leadership and passion.” Many have participated in honors ensembles at the county and All-State levels. The inductees understand the importance of creating community in their ensembles in school, Mr. Lockwood said, “sharing their love of music every day, going above and beyond of what is asked of them.”
To be inducted, students must be a member of a musical ensemble for two years, have an A in their music ensemble classes, a B+ overall academic average and participate in school and community service events.
The inductees were Beatrice Bachmann, orchestra; Juliette Brey, orchestra; Gavin Bunting, orchestra; Ariana Guido, orchestra; Joshua Herr, band; Paley Kirschner, choir; Max Leopold, choir; Aiden Lipton, choir; Emi Nagura, choir; Nicole Nassar, band; Amanda Olego, orchestra; Evan Reiss, orchestra; Avni Sundaram, orchestra; and Alexandra Zodda, orchestra.
The honorary inductee was Andrea DeLorenzo, secretary to the Director of Fine Arts. She was introduced by chorus teacher Dr. Douglas Coates as “the heart and soul of the Byram Hills Fine Arts family” who has served the department for two decades.
“It’s been a pleasure working with all of the students and all of the faculty in this department and the art department,” Mrs. DeLorenzo said. “It’s been a great time.”
Byram Hills music students captivated the audience with beautiful music. Tri-M members Lauren Chase and Laila Byles, both juniors who were inducted last year, performed a violin duet from Six Petitis Duos, and Evan McCauley, also a junior inducted a year ago, played Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14, also called “Moonlight” Sonata. Junior Paley Kirschner, inducted this year, sang Judy Garland’s version of “Get Happy.”
