Twenty-two secondary students were selected for the 2015–16 Long Island String Festival Association (LISFA) Orchestra. This musical experience brought together Long Island’s highly talented young string musicians.
Senior High Division (grades 10–12) LISFA participants from North High School were juniors Ronald Li (violin) and Matthew Weinstein (violin) and sophomores Keva Li (violin), Megan Xu (viola) and Isabel Yang (violin). From South High School musicians included seniors Haena Kang (cello), Jonathan Lee (cello), Robin H. Park (viola), Yerin Son (viola), Hannah Yi (violin I), Hyerin Yoon (violin I) and Alwyn Zhang (bass); junior Joshua Lee (cello) and sophomore Kimberly Lu (violin II).
In the Junior High Division (grades 8–9), participants included ninth-grade violinists Shannon Liu from North High and Chloe Metz from South High. Eighth-grade musicians were North Middle School’s Jeremy Bernstein (cellist), Esther HeeJun Hwang (viola), Brandon Lin (viola), Daniel Zeng (violin); and South Middle School’s Alexandra Woroniecka (violin) and Ann Zhang (viola).
Students were selected for the LISFA Orchestra based on their level and score at the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Festival held last year. They must also participate in their school orchestra program in order to be considered for acceptance and help set an example of excellence for their classmates in instrumental music programs.
LISFA participants are taught by Joseph Rutkowski, instrumental music director at North High and by music department heads/instrumental music teachers Matthew Trinkwald at North Middle, Michael Schwartz at South High and Alan Schwartz at South Middle.
