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April 6, 2006
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS TO PERFORM IN MIDDAY CONCERT AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
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 13, at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free.
The students – Ashley Benson of Ringwood, soprano; Carl Bolleia of Washington Township, piano and percussion; Jeff Brown of Montclair, percussion; Anthony Jay Lalumia of South Brunswick, trombone; April McCloskey of Beverly, percussion; Paul McCullen of Flanders, clarinet; Kurt Patrick of Ridgefield; and Russell Tybus of Roxbury, percussion – will perform a variety of classical works. The program will include music by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Beach, Hindemith, Abe, Gibson and Carter.
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 sophomore, 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. At William Paterson, she has performed in the Opera Workshop. Benson recently placed second in a three-day round of auditions sponsored by the Eastern Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She hopes to become a professional opera singer.
Bolleia is a sophomore majoring in music education. A Dean’s List student, he is pursuing the music track in the University’s Honors College. Actively involved in a number of performance groups at the University, he is a member of the Noyclah Trio. Bolleia is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, and the Catholic Campus Ministry Club. A graduate of Westwood High School, he remains active as an accompanist there and for other local schools, and also serves as director of music and choirs at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church.
Jeff Brown, a sophomore, is pursuing a degree in music education. He is a member of various percussion ensembles at William Paterson, and is a student of percussionist Payton Macdonald. Upon graduation, Brown plans to attend graduate school.
Lalumia, a junior majoring in sound engineering arts, has been playing trombone since the fourth grade. He has performed with the High Mountain Symphony, a professional ensemble in residence at William Paterson, and also performs with several brass brands and other small groups. He currently works as an house engineer/mixer 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, “Absolute Percussion” Quartet, and the High Mountain Symphony, among other groups. 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 junior 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, the Livingston Symphony, and the Essex Summer Orchestra, as well as with the High Mountain Symphony, in residence at William Paterson. An avid conductor of musicals, McCullen won a Perry Award in 2005 for his musical direction of Pirates of Penzance in South Plainfield.
Patrick, a freshman music education major, has already performed with several ensembles on campus, including the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble. Actively involved with his high school music program, he taught at Ridgefield Memorial High School's summer program last year, and co-directed his high school drum line.
Tybus, a senior, is a graduate of Roxbury High School, where he was the soloist for the world premiere of Andrew Boysen's Symphony #3, JFK, 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.
www.wpunj.edu
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Note to editors and reporters: A high-resolution, downloadable photograph is available at: http://ww2.wpunj.edu/publicityphotos/Musicscholars/
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