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April 1, 2005
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS TO PERFORM IN
MIDDAY CONCERT AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
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Eight talented music students who are the recipients
of the Tami Cotsakos ’71 Music Scholarship at William Paterson
University in Wayne will perform in a special Midday Artists Series
concert in Shea Center on campus on Thursday, April 14, at 12:30
p.m. Admission is free.
The students – Ashley Benson of Ringwood, soprano; Carl Bolleia
of Washington Township, piano and percussion; Bernadette Fersch
of Bloomingdale, soprano; Anthony Jay Lalumia of South Brunswick,
trombone; April McCloskey of Beverly, percussion; Paul McCullen
of Flanders, clarinet; Michelle Sedlak of Boonton, piano; and Russell
Tybus of Roxbury, percussion – will perform a variety of classical
works. The program will include music by Barber, Bernstein, Carter,
David, Handel, Hovannes and Mozart, among other composers.
The Tami Cotsakos ’71 Music Scholarships were created for
classical music students who are New Jersey residents in recognition
of their outstanding musical talents. Scholarships, which are based
on exceptional talent, academic excellence and financial need, are
renewable for up to four years. Students were required to participate
in a two-tiered live audition before faculty of the University’s
Music Department.
Benson, a freshman, began voice lessons at age 14, and is pursuing
a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. She has toured through
England, Wales, and Canada with the renowned Lakeland Regional High
School Chorale and Chamber Singers. She also performed in shows
such as Oliver and Pippin. Currently Benson is an apprentice with
her former voice teacher, Karen Cafaro, in hopes of opening her
own private voice studio in the future.
Bolleia is a freshman majoring in music education. A graduate of
Westwood High School, he served for three years as drum major of
the marching band and was named Best Drum Major Groups 1-3 in the
Bergen Regional Marching Band Competition. He also served as accompanist
for chorale activities at the middle school and high school, was
associate conductor of the 8th grade concert band, and director
of the middle school jazz band. Recently named an Eagle Scout, Bolleia
is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and was named to the fall 2004
Dean’s List. He is actively involved at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Roman Catholic Church and is the choral director and organist for
Reformed Protestant Church in Oradell.
Fersch, a junior, began studying voice at age eight. By age 12,
she was performing in different venues around Northern New Jersey
with her brother Paul as her accompanist. She turned to musical
theater during high school and also performed with the Region and
All-State choruses. Since then, she has performed as a chorus member
with the Fort Worth Opera and as Sandra Dee in the musical Grease.
She has performed several solo concerts in Belgium that she also
produced, and was one of 15 vocalists selected to study in Italy
with the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program.
Lalumia, a sophomore, has been playing trombone since the fourth
grade. In addition to attending several music camps, including the
Star Lake Music Camp, he performed in numerous high school groups
including the jazz band, marching band, wind ensemble and a trombone
quartet. Also a vocalist, Lalumia performed in various plays and
musicals and sang in the All-Region Chorus and All-State Chorus.
Lalumia is pursuing a degree in sound engineering at William Paterson
and currently works as an engineer for High Power Productions.
McCloskey is a senior majoring in music education. She is a member
of the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, the William Paterson University
Percussion Ensemble, the 20th Century Chamber Ensemble and the High
Mountain Symphony. Her teachers include Raymond DesRoches, Peter
Jarvis, Tom Kolor, John Ferrari, and Gary Van Dyke. She has performed
with the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble in New York City and Syracuse,
NY. Currently, McCloskey is teaching general percussion and running
various percussion ensembles at Passaic High School.
McCullen is a sophomore pursuing a degree in music education. A
student of the clarinet since age 10, McCullen regularly performs
throughout the Central Jersey area with the Crescent Choral Society,
St. Mary's Choral Society of South Amboy, the Livingston Symphony,
and the Central Jersey Wind Ensemble. He also performs with the
William Paterson University Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble, and
with the High Mountain Symphony, in residence at William Paterson.
Sedlak is a senior majoring in music education. At William Paterson,
she has participated in a percussion ensemble and various string
and chamber ensembles. Sedlak is the director of Morris Conservatory's
Primary Chorus (grades 1 and 2), the accompanist for the Junior
Chorus (grades 3 and 4), and is also an instructor of beginning
piano in Morris Conservatory's Preparatory Division. At 15, she
was the youngest featured piano soloist selected by Morris Conservatory's
Symphonic Chorus, playing a Mozart piano concerto. She has also
been the featured piano soloist with the Baroque Orchestra of Boonton.
Tybus, a junior, graduated from Roxbury High School in 2001, and
went on to study for three semesters at Indiana University before
coming to William Paterson. He was the soloist for the world premiere
of Andrew Boysen's Symphony #3, JFK, at Roxbury, after which he
was awarded the John Philip Sousa National Band Award. He has studied
and performed with Andrew Boysen, Jr., Anthony Cirone, and Ray Cramer.
Tybus has extensive performance experience, having performed at
Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center and toured with various bands
to Toronto, Virginia, and Europe. He is a member of Kappa Kappa
Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity.
For additional information on the concert, please call the Shea
Center Box Office at 973-720-2371. |
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