INAUGURAL E*TRADE MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS TO PERFORM IN MIDDAY CONCERT AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY

Six talented music students who are the recipients of the first E*TRADE Music Scholarships at William Paterson University in Wayne will perform in a special Midday Artists Series concert in Shea Center on campus on Thursday, October 30, at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The students – Bernadette Fersch of Bloomingdale, a soprano; Eric Giles of Irvington, a bass-baritone; Anthony Jay Lalumia of South Brunswick, a trombonist; Gregory Mulford of Bordentown, saxophonist; Michelle Sedlak of Boonton, a pianist; and Russell Tybus of Roxbury, a percussionist – will perform a variety of classical works, including music by Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovksy, Gershwin and Bernstein.
The E*TRADE 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 live audition before faculty of the University’s Music Department.

Fersch, a sophomore, 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 which she also produced, and this past summer was selected as one of 15 to study in Italy with the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program.

Giles, a bass-baritone, began singing at a very early age. He grew up singing Solid Golden Oldies with his mom. He joined the Glee Club in high school, which exposed him to many different languages and styles of music. He has since performed solos at various concerts, cultural events, and talent showcases.

Lalumia, a freshman, 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 such as 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. He is interested in pursuing a career in sound engineering.

Mulford, a senior majoring in music education with a concentration in saxophone performance, has participated in many ensembles including wind ensemble/concert band, classical saxophone quartet, jazz saxophone quartet, saxophone ensemble, clarinet choir, 20th century ensemble, University concert choir and various other small chamber groups. He has studied with Jim Noyes (saxophone), Gary Smulyan and Paul Cohen (saxophone), and Andy Lamy (clarinet). As a member of the New Jersey Music Education Association he has served on several committees at the collegiate level. He is a brother in the Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity of America, the highly competitive music fraternity for men, and is the recipient of a William Paterson University Trustee Scholarship. Mulford teaches private lessons on
saxophone and clarinet for aspiring students.

Sedlak is a junior majoring in music education and studying piano with Gary Kirkpatrick. 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 an instructor of beginning piano there. She also accompanies the Little Falls Chorale, under the direction of Basia Jaworski. At 15, Sedlak was the youngest featured piano soloist selected by Morris Conservatory's Symphonic Chorus. She has also performed as featured piano soloist with the Baroque Orchestra of Boonton.

Tybus, a sophomore, 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 premier 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 in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York 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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For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966

 

10/10/03