On a night filled with beautiful music, Byram Hills High School inducted nine talented members of the band, choir and orchestra into the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
The April 13 induction ceremony began with a welcome from Director of Fine Arts Marc Beja, who praised the inductees for being dedicated to their craft and the Byram Hills music community.
The students are leaders who have shared their musical talents with the community countless times and have achieved top marks in their ensembles at New York State music festival adjudications and in their overall academic programs, he said.
“What’s most exciting is when they’re not in front of an audience, when they are supporting their peers across this building and our other buildings, at District music festivals, and when they serve as ushers at performances and concerts,” Mr. Beja said. “You share your passion, your creativity, your talents with one another, you cheer on all of your peers and you are role models to all of them.”
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 teacher and Tri-M Music Honor Society adviser.
“The nine students being honored tonight have displayed leadership in their high school ensembles and in the building, showing a high degree of loyalty, and cooperation and passion, hard work and service to the community,” Mr. Lockwood said. “They understand the importance of sharing their love of music with the community and leading by example, by going above and beyond what is asked of them each and every day.”
To be inducted, students must be a member of a musical ensemble for a minimum of two years, have an A average in their music classes and a B+ overall academic average, in addition to participating in school and community service events.
Band teacher William Petito introduced the new members, who received a certificate and a ribbon. They were: sophomore Maeve Bunting, orchestra; sophomore Isabel Cooper, band; sophomore Madelyn Gish, orchestra; sophomore Paloma Hussain, orchestra; junior Samuel Majidi, band; sophomore Ojaswi Sahu, orchestra; junior Darby Schlosser, choir; sophomore Zoe Schneidman, orchestra; and sophomore Peter Weil, band.
Dr. Douglas Coates, the choir and theater teacher, highlighted the contributions of honorary inductee Gabriella Medrano. Now in her first year as an art teacher at Byram Hills, Ms. Medrano spent the previous nine years working in the District’s Media & Communication Center, supporting the arts from behind the scenes by filming performances. This year, she served as the assistant director for the Varley Players and brought creativity and organization that has made an immeasurable difference.
“Whether she’s behind the camera, in the classroom, or helping bring a production to life, Gabi shows up fully,” Dr. Coates said. “She supports others, lifts up the arts, and helps create the kind of community we all value so deeply. Gabi embodies what it means to be an advocate for the arts, not for recognition, but for the joy of the work and the success of those around her.”
Byram Hills music students captivated the audience with beautiful music during the ceremony. Paloma Hussain gave a stirring performance of Bach’s Cello Concerto in C Minor, Isabel Cooper played a spirited “Gaelic Suite” on the trumpet, and Darby Schlosser sang an upbeat “Thank You For the Music.”
