Music is a gift. Students shared their gift at the 45th annual student piano recital on Friday, June 6, at Shelter Rock Church in Manhasset. An appreciative audience of family and friends enjoyed the pianists’ choice of solos reflective of the four music eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary, including jazz and pop.
Each student introduced themselves and their three chosen pieces from their repertoire before performing. Luca Pedicini welcomed the guests and began the concert with Schubert’s March Militaire, Surfboard Boogie and Sky Full of Stars, made famous by the British Rock Band Coldplay. The concert participants continued with Gari Banks, Mariel Caparosa, Juliette Fisher, Bailey Henderson, Agathi Katechis, Katerina Katechis, Daniel Patterson, Maria Psarros, Layla Sanghrajka, Morgan Sim, Alayna Swanson, Matthew Swanson, Kate Stols and Emma Vitols. The performance concluded with Violet Worms playing Rachmaninoff’s C# Minor Prelude Theme.
Diplomas and pins were presented to all 16 students, each of whom received Honors in performance in the 2025 National Guild Auditions, which was held May 25 in Port Washington; thereby admitting him or her into the National Fraternity of Student Musicians, American College of Musicians for the year 2025. Requirements were scales, chords and cadences relating to each piece performed, plus ear training and transposition.
The local winner with a three piece program was Violet Worms, who has performed in the National Guild for 9 years.
State winners with a seven piece memorized program were Bailey Henderson, Agathi Katechi, and Maria Psarros. National winners with a 10 piece memorized program were Gari Banks, Mariel Caparosa, Juliette Fisher, Katerina Katechis, Daniel Patterson, Luca Pedicini, Layla Sanghrajka, Morgan Sim, Kate Stols, Alayna Swanson, Matthew Swanson and Emma Vitols.
Ruth Pleines concluded the concert with appreciation expressed to the students for their commitment to piano/music study and to the parents for their encouragement of continuing music education. Each student received a take-home bag of goodies.
