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Monticello Schools honored again for its great music program
Monticello's Music Department has been selected as one of the nation's best school districts for music education for the second year in a row. This top honor is given by the NAMM Foundation to districts with a "superb school-based music education program for young people."

Click here for the the NAMM Foundation web site with the complete list of "Best Communities."
 
Congratulations once again to the music department faculty and staff!

The following story is re-printed courtesy the Sullivan County Democrat.
Monticello HS music honored
MONTICELLO - Monticello Central School District has been designated a "Best community" for its commitment to provide quality music education programs for its students.

The designation came from the NAMM Foundation, which announced the results of the ninth annual "Best Communities for Music Education" survey, which includes 110 school districts across the US.

The designated programs exemplify community commitment to include music education as part of a quality education for all children.

The NAMM foundation and its music education advocacy efforts work to ensure that all children have access to quality music education program that encourage lifelong participation in music making. This year's roster of musical schools represents 29 states with New York, New jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia representing the most districts.

Hundreds of teachers, school and district administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders, representing communities in all 50 states, participated in the Web-based survey. The districts were measured across a variety of program support, curricular and programmatic criteria. Furthermore, the results were measured proportionally, so that communities of different sizes were compared equally.

Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, enrollment, student/teacher ratios, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, private music lesson participation, and other relevant factors in their communities' music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials, and the sponsoring organizations reviewed the data.

Luehrsen also noted that throughout the survey's eight years, several districts have reported that making the "Best Communities" list has had a tangible effect on their ability to preserve music for their students. This year, recipients cited increased enrollment in music programs and more support from parents and community members as they realize the physical, mental and emotional value music education brings to students.

Research reveals strong correlations between quality music education in school and academic achievement.

“Between the Wars: A Living Timeline” was performed on Friday, May 30, in the high school auditorium to a packed house. A gallery reception in the lobby followed the program with Fine Art Academy students presenting original music, dance, literature and visual art creations. The idea for this show began as a small, well-designed collaboration between the Monticello Central School District Chamber Music Program and the Weekend of Chamber Music (WCM), two music organizations established to show the artistic abilities of young and old alike. Within recent months, the partnership has evolved into a full-scale, interdisciplinary project.

Click here to read the complete press release and summary about the project written by students Joe Michel and Mary Setren.

Click here to visit the Global Village Music Department page (please note, to gain access you must click on the "Login as a guest" button).

Click here to view the story by Richard Ross, courtesy the River Reporter.

Monticello Schools hosts the NYSSMA Festival for the second year in a row
The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Solo and Ensemble Festival is a festival for students to be evaluated on their musical performance. Students prepare a solo piece with their music teachers and then perform it for a certified judge. The festival allows students to get written evaluations from professionals about how they play, what they do well, and what they can do to improve their skills.

About 2,500 students attended the festival on May 16 and 17, with 52 schools represented and about 32 judges from around the region. Monticello Schools’ Music Director Dr. Kevin Dirth volunteered to host this huge event because there was no school in Sullivan County hosting a festival this year. According to Dirth, he volunteered to ensure there was a local school participating so residents wouldn’t have to travel a long distance.

Each year, there are several of these festivals around the state. Monticello Schools was the festival site for Zone 9, which includes the counties of Sullivan, Rockland, Ulster, Orange, and Greene. Students also come to these festivals to audition for the All-State Music Festival, which is held in December of each year. The students with the highest scores are eligible for the All-State Festival.

Monticello High School's spring musical, The Sound of Music, was performed on April 11 and 12, to delighted audience members
This year’s production of one of the most beloved musicals of all time by Rodgers and Hammerstein was beautifully performed by Monticello High School's talented young actors and actresses. Based on the 1959 Broadway hit, the story is set in 1938 Austria (around WWII) and is based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers. The lead rolls were played by Dan Cunningham as Captain Von Trapp and Juliana D'Abbraccio as Maria.
Photo: from left, Emma Cohen as Elsa; Dan Cunningham as the captain; and Frank Segro as Max.

Monticello is alive with ‘The Sound of Music’
Story and photo by Richard Ross, Courtesy The River Reporter

MONTICELLO, NY — For those who are aficionados of fine high school theatre, the time has come again to attend a wonderful production as Monticello High School gets set to stage Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘The Sound of Music” in the Arnold Packer Auditorium on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Year in and year out, Monticello High School’s productions are enthralling, rife with talent, stunning with their costumes and wonderful sets and sonorous with their fine orchestration and singing.

This year’s show stars Julianna D’Abbraccio as Maria and Daniel Cunningham as Captain Von Trapp in the musical directed by Jennifer Romano, who also served as choreographer. Audiences will be enchanted by Monticello’s fine musical renditions of such favorites as “My Favorite Things,” “The Sound of Music,” Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and “The Lonely Goatherd,” among others. Producer Dr. Kevin Dirth provides the theatre orchestra direction and vocal music director Snezana Lazich guides the show’s classic numbers. Amy Abraham is the accompanist and Tim Buckley designed the sets and oversaw their construction. No Monticello production would be quite the same without the costumes by Ann Carmeci.

Click here for the full story.

Click here for the complete photo album of the production (photo album CDs of the show are available for purchase by sending a check for $22.50 to The River Reporter, P.O. Box 150, Narrowsburg, NY 12764).

Photo: Singing “Edelweiss,” and then “So, Long Farewell” at a concert, the Von Trapp family prepares to make its escape from the Nazi occupied Austria to Switzerland. Pictured are young Gretl (Linda Seminario) front left, Brigitta (Lauren Katz), far left, Kurt (Tyler Wuerthner), Friedrich (Erik Mayberg), Marta (Sarah Klein), Louisa (Marina Lombardi), Liesl (Daria Coney), Captain Georg Von Trapp (Daniel Cunningham) and Maria VonTrapp, formerly Maria Rainer (Julianna D’Abbraccio).

NYSCA award allows chamber music collaboration
Through a very competitive Arts Partners Challenge Grant recently received by Monticello High School and Tri-Valley Central, the schools will have the opportunity to once again host the Weekend of Chamber Music (WCM) to work with their chamber music students.

The grant is provided through the NYSCA Local Capacity Building Initiative of the Arts in Education Program, administered by the Westchester Arts Council.

Pictured from left are WCM’s Communications Director Terry Schommer; Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz; Monticello Central School's Director of Music Dr. Kevin Dirth; WAC Board Member & Education Committee co-chair Hannah Schmerler, and Tri-Valley performing arts teacher Regina Hartman at the recent awards ceremony held in White Plains.

A Wellspring of Talent
Dozens of Monticello School Students Chosen to Perform at All-County
The Monticello Central School District announces 128 students who were selected to perform in the All-County Music Festival, hosted this year by the Tri-Valley Central Schools. The students were selected from the following schools – Monticello High School, RJK Middle School, KLR Elementary School, Duggan Elementary School, and Chase Elementary School. After intensive rehearsals, these students will perform in one of two concerts on March 8 at Tri Valley. The ensembles will be led by guest conductors from various parts of the region, who will share with the students their wealth of knowledge and experience as top professionals in their field. The selected Monticello students and the ensembles in which they will perform are as follows:

Junior High Jazz Ensemble: A.J. Nittoli, Aishe Brodie, Brian Jersey, Daniel Sisco and Charlotte Ference.
String Orchestra: Rebecca Perlman, Justine Raymond, Daria Coney, Maria Pavese, Aria Shafai, Arielle Chin, Lauren Katz, Paulina Pavese, Taylor Fasce, Elli Kyprianou, Rachel Zager, Daniel Cook, Victoria Walters-Lemenze, Nicole Ryan, Jacqueline O’Rourke, Brittany Knapp, Kaila Smithem, Anjuli Bryant, Juliana D’Abbraccio, Carlye Benson, Ruby Hong, Kelly Pfeister, Owen Goodman, Lauren Byrne, Joshua Oates, Huiwon Lee, Jessica Simpson, Jessica Nesin, Aimee Pelosi, Daniel Braunstein and Jennifer Giza.
Elementary Chorus: Linda Seminario, Aleah Vir, M’Kayla Morgan, Marie Cruz, Allura DeGraw, Shandell Jones, Natasiana Small, Anthony Rizzuto, Andrew Nagoda, Nicholas Koenig, Courtney Swensen, Brianna Smyth, Kaytlynn Kean, Angela Laba, Christopher Sprague, Gwen Nieves, Anthony Lombardi, Shelby Cooper, Jordana Maraj, Katie Michel, Ashlynn Barbarite, Domonique Simms, Jaclyn Bellamy, Esther Hong, David Ambra, Lily McCausland, Kristy Gessmanm, Roxanne Osorio, Destiny Ortiz, Jane Hyman, Nessiah Clark, Alec Wood, Ocean Heintz, Megan McCormick and Javaan Bolden.
Junior High Chorus: Kristen Druse, Katie Fishler, Cassi Smithem, Rachel Klein, Nicole Nittoli, Marcella Fernandez, De’Ja Taylor, Bryana Sewell, Karla Leon, Kathleen McGruder, Trevor Fraser, Jacob Martin, Malik Murray, Cahill Hyacinthe, Angelo Heimowitz, Shane Jackson, David Fishler, Peter Chocolate, Jaime Alejandro, Conner McCausland, Kimi San Miguel, Robby Garay, Matthew Young, Robert Kerstner and Marcus Daniels-Penn.
Middle School Band: Jordan Fredell, Brittany Rupp, Makayla Mendels, David Bennettm, Luis Torres, Ryan Schaver, Adrian Galeas and Andrew Krotje.
High School Band: Chelsea Brennan, Hayley Brennan, Victoria Dunlap, Richard Jersey, Kathryn Justus, Joseph Santelli, Scott Bock, Kyle Lounsbury, Shannon Thomas, Christian Giunta, Erik Mayberg and Jesse Martinez.
Women’s Chorus: Julie Crance, Crystal Dempsey, Katryna Rockicki, Mae Bonnaci, Yasmine Gandullo, Raychelle Gandy, Aimee Rice, Annie Purcell, Taylor Knapp, Saige Sanford, Chaya Barasch-Grose and Taylor Santos.

Photo: From left, Marina Lombardi, Aria Shafai, Rebecca Perlman and Justine Raymond practice with the Monticello High School Chamber Orchestra. The four students have all been chosen to perform at this year’s All-County Music Festival.

A Holiday Gift of Music
Monticello High School band and chorus give live performance for U.S. Troops in Iraq
Following the spirited tradition of USO performers who have been brightening the holiday season for lonely GIs since the 1940s, the music departments from five local school districts united on Thursday, Dec. 20, to present a special holiday concert for the U.S. troops in Iraq. Unlike the USO - which for safety reasons must perform concerts in designated safe zones – modern video conferencing technology enabled the schools to bring this concert directly to members of the 3rd Infantry Division serving on the front lines in Iraq.

The Songs for Troops Concert began at the Chester Academy with a flag presentation by a five-man military color-guard from the Warwick VFW Post 4662. During the multi-location concert, each of the participating bands and choral groups took turns performing a selection of songs.

The musical performances were be broadcast live to Iraq using the Orange-Ulster BOCES’ Internet Protocol video conferencing bridge that connected to video equipment in each of the schools. Organizers dedicated the day’s performances to a young soldier, Sgt. Samuel E. Kelsey, who was killed in battle on Dec. 13, as a way to honor him and his fallen comrades.

For the students in the band and chorus at Monticello High School, the day was filled with nervous excitement, as they awaited their turn to perform. One ninth-grade saxophonist Kyle Ruperd, summed it up when he explained that though they were prepared to play, many of the students were filled with nervous excitement, as they wanted to perform their best for the troops. Kyle personally hoped that their performance would help ease the homesick feeling many of our soldiers might be feeling during the holiday season.

At noon, the MHS Concert Band sprang to life as conductor Aaron Rovitz gave the cue. Students then proceeded to wow the troops with their dynamic version of the “Theme from S.W.A.T.”

When the Monticello High School Mixed Chorus began its lineup of songs, you could see smiles on the faces of the soldiers as they enjoyed the melodic performance. The Monticello program ended with a candlelit version of “Silent Night” that brought tears to the eyes of many on both sides of the planet.

When the two hour event ended, more than 500 local music students had participated in the performances. Besides Monticello and Chester, Minisink Valley, Port Jervis and Warwick Valley Schools had all contributed to the success of the day.

The holiday concert was organized by Chester Middle School Principal Ernest Jackson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served most of his military career in the 3rd Infantry Division.

The Times-Herald Record videotaped Monticello’s performance. To view it, please click here.

Photo 1: From left, Monticello High School senior Victoria Dunlap played the French horn and sang in the chorus. For her the day was very personal, as some of her older friends will be joining the army this spring. Ninth graders Shannon Thomas, Brandon Rieber and Kyle Ruperd were ready to play from their hearts. The students expressed how it was important to them that the troops enjoy the music.

Photo 2: The Monticello High School Mixed Chorus, led by music teacher Snezana Lazich, sang a variety of classical and holiday songs.

Photo 3: Monticello Director of Music Dr. Kevin Dirth helped organize the Sullivan County end of things with help from district technology wizards Dennis DePasquale and David Linton. The techies worked countless hours during the week prior to the performance to ensure that the day’s event went smoothly and without a glitch.

Click here for Richard Ross' coverage of this event (courtesy The River Reporter).

Student performance filled with laughs
The Monticello High School Theatre Department presented the comedy drama, You Can't Take It With You, during mid-December. Students shined with talent as they commanded the stage of the high school auditorium. The performance was well received by enthusiastic audiences.

The original play opened in New York City in December 1936 to instant critical and popular acclaim. The story relates the humorous encounter between a conservative family and the crazy household of Grandpa Martin Vanderhof – a group of individuals who amuse with their energetic physical antics and inspire with their wholehearted pursuit of happiness.

Among the large cast, lead players included Jennifer Shickle, Zach Gibson, Rebecca Perlman, Dan Cunningham, Erik Mayberg, and Frank Segro, with Jennifer Romano directing the show. Tim Buckley and Dan Svarczkopf are designing and overseeing set construction, lighting and sound. The show is produced by Monticello’s Director of Music Dr. Kevin Dirth.

A complete photo album of the play performance is available from journalist Richard Ross (Courtesy The River Reporter). To view the photo album, visit www.riverreportersports.com, then click Photos, then Latest Albums, then You Can’t Take It With You. CD's of the photo compilation can be also be purchased directly from The River Reporter.

Click here to read The River Reporter's rave review about the play performance!
 

RJK Middle School students frolic with fun in Wonderland

In early November, Monticello Schools’ Music Department and Robert J. Kaiser Middle School presented Lewis Carroll’s light-hearted play Alice in Wonderland Jr.

RJK students gave a funny and engaging performance of the musical comedy that follows the adventures of Alice after she falls down a rabbit hole. The night was bursting with young, talented voices as Alice was forced to use magic potions, cakes, and mushrooms to change from small to large and back again, while dealing with new acquaintances such as Mock Turtle, March Hare, Dormouse, and the King and Queen of Hearts.

The show was a big hit with audience members who were delighted by the quality of the performance that seemed to whisk them away into another time. Amongst the crowd were parents donning flowers for their budding young starlets.

This year’s play was directed and choreographed by Jennifer Romano, with music teacher Snezana Lazich as the choral director. The show was produced by the Director of Monticello’s Music Department, Dr. Kevin Dirth.

Photos
1: This trio of eighth-grade friends and performers were excited about their roles together in the school play. From left, Kristen Druse played Alice, Olivia Shope played a flower named Rose, and Rachelle Walker sang and danced the evening away as a chorus member.

2: From left, Cheshire Cats David Fishler, Jonathan Harned and Anthony Lombardi strike a pose as part of their pre-play warm-up.

3: In order for Alice to fit into the small places she encountered during her Wonderland adventure, she had to be shrunken down to a tiny size using magical potions. Pictured left is Katie Michel, who was just the right size to play the part of Small Alice. With her are her sixth-grade friends and fellow actresses Kayla Greco who played a blossoming flower; Jaclyn Bellamy, who sparkled as a caterpillar who turns into a butterfly; and Trisha Yearwood who swam easily through her role as a fish!

Photo 4: During their final bow, the young performers were ecstatic and thrilled by the audience’s response to their performance.

Outstanding Monticello High School music students secure a place in regional and state performances

Monticello High School had three students chosen to perform in the prestigious Area All-State Music Festival scheduled for November 16-17 at Monroe-Woodbury High School. These students were chosen from more than 1,000 applicants from Zone 9, which includes Rockland, Sullivan, Orange, Ulster and Greene Counties.

Selections were based on their outstanding solo audition scores from last spring’s NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo evaluation festival. Students will meet with their counterparts at Monroe-Woodbury on November 16, for a five-hour intensive rehearsal. The students will return on November 17, for continued rehearsals, which will culminate in two performances.

The ensembles will be led by guest conductors form various parts of the country, who will also share with the students their wealth of knowledge and experience as top professionals in their field.

The selected Monticello High School students are (pictured in order from left):

2007 Area All-State Women’s Chorale: Rachel Zager
2007 Area All-State Orchestra: Rebecca Perlman
2007 Area All-State Band: Christian Giunta

As an added honor, Monticello High School senior Christian Giunta, was also selected to participate in the All-State Mixed Choir of the New York State All State Music Festival, which will be held in Rochester on November 29-December 2.

Christian was selected out of thousands who auditioned for this honor in the spring of 2007.

Local music director saves Boston Pops show
Rock Hill - "All That Jazz" wouldn't be the same without the trombone sliding note-to-note in the chorus.

So thank a guy at a local music store and a school music director for making sure Sunday night's Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performance at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts went off without a hitch.

The saga began when James Nova, the trombonist slated to solo in "All That Jazz" during the encore, arrived at Stewart International Airport two hours and 15 minutes before curtain - but his trombone didn't.

Cliff Schwartz works at his brother's store, Steve's Music, in Rock Hill. He was at the store at 4:45 p.m. and got the frantic call from Bethel Woods' production manager, James Reilly, and another from one of the Pops' people.

"We try to do what we can to help Bethel Woods," Schwartz said.

Now, Steve's Music has student-model trombones, but doesn't carry the sort of high-end horn a professional would use. So Cliff Schwartz called Kevin Dirth.

Dirth is going into his fifth year as music director of Monticello schools. Before that gig, when he lived in Vermont, he played trombone professionally in big bands and other groups.

"He generously offered to let us borrow his own personal trombone," Schwartz said.

"There was no hesitation," Dirth says. "Being a professional myself, I can understand the situation."

But he'd just gotten back from vacation, so first Dirth had to retrieve his Bach 36B from his office at Monticello High School. Then he met up with Schwartz, who drove the trombone to Bethel Woods.

"It was funny," Schwartz says. "It was like 'Mission: Impossible.'"

At 6 p.m., Schwartz drove up to the concert hall, left the car running (with his mom inside) and ran the trombone backstage.

"I arrived with the trombone just as he arrived from the airport," Schwartz said.

The hand-off was complete. Nova went to warm up for the 7 p.m. concert.

Schwartz and his mom grabbed some dinner, then settled in for the concert. They already had tickets, since they had planned to go to the performance before the brass adventure started. And just maybe there was a little extra enjoyment when Nova's solo came around.

"Everything worked out very nicely," Schwartz said. "And he sounded great."

Photo: Kevin Dirth, director of music for Monticello schools, left, and Cliff Schwartz, of Steve's Music Center in Rock Hill, were instrumental in saving the day for Sunday's program at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

 - Reprinted with permission from the Times Herald-Record - story by Heather Yakin; photo by Dominick Fiorille - August 21, 2007 -

World class music delights and informs Shandelee reaches out in more ways than one
HARRIS, NY – For the past 14 years The Shandelee Music Festival has brought some of the world’s finest young musicians to Sullivan County to play on the Steinway grand piano in the Sunset Concert Pavilion, delighting concertgoers with a caliber of music they would otherwise have to travel far and wide to hear. But given the constraints imposed by ticket prices, seating availability and the mobility needed to get to the festival site, many people have never heard such performances locally, something that has greatly concerned festival president Daniel Stroup and his longstanding artistic director Lana Ivanov. So for the past four years, the festival has sought to reach out to the community in a variety of ways to access segments of the population that would otherwise never get to hear the sounds heard at Shandelee. To that end, the Shandelee Music Festival’s Outreach Program has offered a concert for area school students each spring, replete with a chance to meet and interact with young rising artists who answer questions about their piano studies and the works they are performing. They make the experience up-close and personal for the host of fifth- through 12th-graders who listen attentively to every note and word.

In addition, each summer, festival public relations director Barbara Konvalin has brought several young virtuosos to the Skilled Nursing Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) to perform for the patients there in a program arranged with CRMC Community Relations Director Jodi Goodman.
On August 6, the patients were transfixed by the music of arguably the best group of young musicians to visit the hospital since the Outreach Program began. Elena Maraztchyska began with a stunning and emotional rendering of Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy. Born in Bulgaria, she was a 2007 winner of the MNTA National Prize Auditions and won a Steinway grand piano. She has spent the last three years living in Las Vegas. She was followed by Violetta Koss of Manhattan, whose mother works here in Sullivan County. The 16-year-old attends LaGuardia High School. She performed the Intermezzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor by Brahms. Rodion Efremov emigrated to the United States at age six. He is currently a freshman at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. Efremov played Chopin’s Etude Opus 10, Number 4 and Rachmaninoff’s Etude Tableau Opus 39, No. 1. The patients sat and listened to his performance, as to the others, with a degree of attention previously unobserved by this writer in former years at the Skilled Nursing Unit. Doris Lee delighted her rapt listeners with Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 31 No. 2 and Franz Liszt’s Grande Etudes de Paganini S15, No. 5. The 15-year-old world-traveling artist is a name that piano audiences will hear more of in years to come. Anna Fedorova played Ravel’s Albrada del gracioso with fervor and pizzazz. Miraztchyska and Radion then accompanied her for a delightful trio performance on one piano of Johann Strauss’ Kunstlerleben.

This past spring, following an enthusiastic reaction to the student concert at the college for area kids, Stroup and Ivanov decided it was time to implement the third part of the outreach program, namely opening the festival’s facilities, teachers and classes to student pianists to offer them lessons every other day; the practice cottages, each with its own Steinway; master classes; and a chance to perform in concert. On August 13, the five students, who have spent the first of two weeks immersed in the festival experience, came to WJFF to be interviewed on Monday Afternoon Classics with Gandalf, which aired at its regular time of 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Dana Burkart, a recent graduate of Fallsburg High School, is bound for RIT in the fall. The 18-year-old pianist has been studying for the past six years. Like the other four students from Sullivan County, he has been acclimating himself to the rigors of practice that requires not only time, but focus.
Jessica Nesin, an eighth grader from Robert J. Kaiser Middle School, has studied with Ann Trombley for the past seven years. Nesin, a veteran of NYSSMA competitions in piano (three years), violin (two years) and voice (one year) was born in Tbilisi, in the Republic of Georgia. Asked about her experience with the Shandelee Festival this summer, Nesin noted, “I hope to improve my technique.” She has found the teachers to be most helpful and encouraging.
Ruby Hong will be entering her freshman year at Monticello High School this fall. She described her first week at the festival as “different, unforgettable and unique.” Learning to practice by concentrating on parts that need work rather than running through the entire piece has been helpful, as has the opportunity to have a lesson every other day instead of once a week. Ryan Cerullo is entering his senior year at Liberty High School, and is looking forward to attending college to study music education, perhaps at Ithaca, Potsdam, Fredonia or Eastman. Cerullo also plays the bassoon and other woodwinds and has performed with the Liberty High School Jazz Band at Bethel Woods for the past two years. Stephan Gagnon recently graduated from Monticello High School and is interested in composing. He is strongly moved and influenced by the music of Chopin. “I love this place,” he said, referring to the Shandelee Music Festival. It is the first opportunity he has had to avail himself of personal lessons. Gagnon notes that the practice regimen is something he will continue once his summer program is over. Cerullo and Nesin are performing at a sold-out concert in the Sunset Pavilion on August 13. Gagnon, Hong and Burkhart will perform on August 18. Some seating is still available for that concert. Call the box office at 845/439-3277. Given the efforts of the Shandelee Music Festival to share its fine musicianship with audiences, students and the infirm, it is clear that the world-renowned concert venue is also becoming a treasured resource for Sullivan County.

Photo: Sullivan County students chosen to study and perform at the 2007 Shandelee Music Festival include Ruby Hong, front left, from Monticello High School; Jessica Nesin of the Robert J. Kaiser Middle School; Stephan Gagnon, back left, a recent graduate of Monticello High School; Ryan Cerullo of Liberty High School; and Dana Burkart, a recent graduate of Fallsburg High School.

- Reprinted from The River Reporter - story & photo by Richard A. Ross -

Rutherford students chosen to sing with professional opera company
Fifteen students from the Rutherford Elementary School, along with their music teacher Amy Abraham, will be singing in the Hudson Opera Theatre's production of  “Carmen” this summer.

Mrs. Abraham, a member of the opera company, has been working with her students, diligently training and preparing them for the production's children’s chorus. Students had to audition to get into the chorus and those who qualified have been rehearsing with Mrs. Abraham at school. In July, they will join the opera company for rehearsals and performances, under the direction of Ron DeFesi.

Public performances will be various dates from July 22 through August 12. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the opera website at www.hotopera.com or call 661-0544.

The students involved are Ashlynn Barbarite, Ynez Berg-Jones, Marie Cruz, Precious Ellis, Zakirah Garvey, Katie Michel, M’kayla Morgan, Gwen Nieves, Destiny Ortiz, Courtney Parlapiano, Shivani Patel, Skye Rundle, Jordan Santiago, Yahaira Santiago-Morales, Linda Seminario, and Aleah Vir.

High School Choir sings for community event
On Saturday, May 12, Monticello High School’s Renaissance Choir, lead by Choral Director Snezana Lazich, sang a variety of songs at the historic plaque dedication honoring the Smith family.

The ceremony, which was overseen by NY State Chief Justice Judith Kaye, was at the site of the former Smith Brothers Farm in the Town of Thompson. Kaye, who is Benjamin Smith’s daughter, is also a graduate of Monticello High School.

Lazich, who is new to the high school music program, is trying to expand the chorus's involvement in more community activities.

Monticello School District Named a Best Community for Music Education
-Nationwide Survey Finds School Districts Committed to Music Education as a Conduit for Success in School and in Life-

For the eighth year in a row, a survey conducted by a partnership of leading music and educational organizations has identified the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America,” and the 2007 list includes the Monticello School District in Monticello, NY for its unwavering commitment to school-based music programs. The survey was sponsored by the NAMM Foundation and its American Music Conference (AMC) division that work to promote the benefits of active participation in music and music education.

While music education has been linked to higher SAT scores, math grades and future success in life, the survey also found that many students hailing from a ‘Best 100’ community have continued their musical pursuits professionally as educators, or playing for renowned symphonies, opera houses, orchestras and on Broadway. Several former students have even become acclaimed recording artists. In addition, the results show that students from “Best 100” school districts have a better appreciation of music and become life-long consumers of music – either through attendance at concerts, continued performance on their instruments, etc.

Thousands of teachers, school and district administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders, representing communities in all 50 states, participated in the Web-based survey. The 2007 roster includes school districts from 31 states that are committed to quality music education programs and providing access to music education. The districts were measured across a variety of program support, curricular and programmatic criteria. Because the criteria in the survey are measured proportionally, large communities and small ones are able to participate on an equal footing.

Monticello’s Director of Music Dr. Kevin Dirth applied for the award after an independent music consulting firm evaluated the district’s program and found it to be one of the best they had ever seen.

The firm continued to say, “We find the music education currently being delivered to (Monticello) students to be generally excellent and in many cases outstanding. The overall philosophy of the music department, the delivery of the general music program and the elective and ensemble offerings are some of the best we’ve seen. We find strength in both the staff and a very supportive administration.”

For Dirth, he and his staff have worked very hard for this honor. “If you look at the list of schools who have won this award, they all have excellent and strong music programs that are well respected, with a broad array of offerings, a lot of support, and who send high quality students out into the world,” stated Dirth. “We are so proud to be acknowledged with them.”

Monticello Central School District’s Board of Education and administrative officials were honored to receive such a prestigious award highlighting its music department for outstanding programming and performances, especially since the district has strived to create and keep its music department as one of the top-rated, cutting edge programs in the region. At its March 15 meeting, the Board of Education declared March to be Music in our Schools Month and awarded each teacher in the music department an award certificate for his/her gallant efforts and great accomplishments.

“Monticello’s music department has top-notch teachers who have created an environment of creativity, learning and exploration, so that students can express themselves musically and excel to their full potentials,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel. “We are very proud of them.”

Many students have graduated from Monticello High School and have gone on to have successful careers in music and music education. A few notable names include: opera singer Stephanie Blythe, Julliard School of Music student Andrew Trombley and Monticello music teacher Aaron Rovitz, who graduated from Monticello High School six years ago and has come back to teach in the middle and high schools after receiving his Bachelor of Music from SUNY Fredonia.

Under Dirth’s guidance, the 13 district teachers are as follows: Amy Abraham, Ellen Alewitz, Peri Berman, Dawn Clayton, Tom Fadden, Karen Laufersweiler, Snezana Lazich, Michael Mingo Aaron Rovitz, Ann Trombley, Linda Van Norman, Joyce Wells and Nancy Wegrzyn. More information about each teacher can be found at the bottom of this page.

Click here to watch the Cable 6 TV News coverage of this event with Tracy Baxter.

Video provided by CAP Productions of Middletown.

A new high tech music lab equipped with cutting-edge software is helping students prepare for careers in the music industry.

Specialized programs such as Finale 2006, Garage Band and Audiation are now being used as part of the curriculum – helping students enhance their skills in music theory, composition, editing, recording and listening.

Since the new lab was installed this past August, district music teachers have been investing countless hours to learn the new software programs. Ultimately, they will save precious teaching time for more advanced learning, as the nine-station computer lab setup allows students to practice their basic drills on their own, such as identifying intervals, chords or rhythm patterns.

Monticello's Director of Music Dr. Kevin Dirth, hopes the new lab will attract even more students to take music classes, as well as give those already in the program new experiences they otherwise would not receive.