Arts & Entertainment

Morristown Student Earns Mayo Center Music Honors

Students from Parsippany, Morristown, Chester and East Hanover are named Music Students of the Month for February.

Some area music students won monthly honors at the Mayo Performing Arts Center last Saturday, including one from Morristown.

Students were nominated by their teachers and were chosen by the Mayo Center’s education department based on their commitment to and excellence in the performing arts. The theatre honors students each month during its season and invites area teachers to nominate students for this honor. The winners will be invited to perform at a year-end recital in June.

Among those honored as the Mayo's Music Students of the Month for February are (bios come from respective schools): 

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Charlotte Rodgers
Senior, Morristown High School, Morristown, Cello 

Nominated by Norma Davis 

Charlotte is a senior at Morristown High School has been an outstanding member of the Morristown High School Orchestra for four years, where she has distinguished herself in numerous ways.  Charlotte loves playing the cello, which is a very important part of her life.  As section leader in the MHS Orchestra, she inspires the other students through her musicality, helpful suggestions, and enthusiasm.  She brightens the room with her smile and great sense of humor as she delves into the orchestra music. Charlotte always gives one hundred percent effort in every rehearsal and concert.  In addition to the MHS Orchestra, Charlotte has played the cello in the Pit Orchestra for both the high school and middle school musicals every year, she has performed in quartets and other chamber ensembles, and she is the cello section leader of the select MHS String Ensemble.  She enjoys playing music of all styles, from classical and pop to swing and jazz.  As a student in AP Music Theory class last year, Charlotte showed a deep interest in learning to analyze music at a sophisticated level. Charlotte is a remarkable young lady, and will continue to find success in all of her academic and music endeavors.

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Louisa Oualim
Junior, West Morris Mendham High School, Chester, Violinist 
Nominated by Carol S. Meiseles 

Louisa is a junior at West Morris Central High School an extremely talented violinist. She is a dedicated member of the West Morris Central High School Orchestra, the Baroque Orchestra and a founding member of the Pocket String Quartet.  She plays violin with these ensembles at school and community events.  The Pocket Quartet recently performed at Community Theatre’s December Fund-Raiser.  In her spare time, Louisa also performs with the Stone Symphony, a community orchestra in Morris County. Her devotion and commitment to music has helped to foster a positive attitude and desire to attain a high level of performance for all music students.  During many lunch periods and after school, you can find Louisa in the music room with her string quartet rehearsing their music.  They were invited to perform at the National Honor Society and Foreign Language Society Inductions, as well as the IB Graduation Ceremony. Louisa is well respected among her peers and has shown great dedication as a student and musician.

Timothy Schwerdt
Senior, Parsippany High School, Parsippany, Bass Player 

Nominated by Gregory Dalakian 

Tim is a senior at Parsippany High School and is an outstanding young musician with a promising future. He is an excellent bass player and has been an integral part of Parsippany High School Jazz Band since he entered high school. His skills as an electric bassist have improved throughout his high school career. Tim has even learned how to play String Bass as well. He has played both electric and acoustic bass with the Jazz Band, string bass with the Wind Ensemble, and string bass with the Lakeland Youth Symphony. He has also been taking bass lessons for the last year with Mr. Dennis Masuzzo. In addition to playing for the PHS Pit Orchestras, he has also played for Parsippany Hills HS and Brooklawn Middle School's Musicals. In addition to bass, Tim plays baritone saxophone, bassoon, and has played bass, snare, and tenor drums in our Marching Band. Tim is a very talented young adult and always comes through for the band whenever they need a bass player. Tim plans to attend a four-year college and pursue a promising career in music.

Michael Vitiello
Freshman, Hanover Park High School, East Hanover, Violinist and Violist
 
Nominated by Helen Britez 

Michael is a freshman at Hanover Park High school and is an extremely dedicated and talented musician.  This year is the first year, in many years that Hanover Park has a string ensemble which Michael has been an integral part of.  Michael is quite accomplished as a violinist and violist, and has made the job of his teacher infinitely easier with his patience and helpful participation as the school builds a program and grooms new players.  He is helpful to the other students, and to his teacher, because he is not only talented and skilled, but kind and caring.  He genuinely wants the other students to do well, and is always willing to give advice or demonstrate for them.  Because it is a new/young group, the winter concert included music that was relatively easy, but could be performed well and with pride.  This literature was not a challenge to Michael, but he never complained about it being too easy or boring.  He was recently accepted into the North Jersey Region Orchestra, taking the 8th chair. Michael continues to excel as an outstanding student in his school community and talented musician.


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