Erin Alvey Erin Alvey - Outstanding Achievement In Band Congratulations to the three high school students who received music awards sponsored by the Friends of Music. Erin Alvey received the Outstanding Achievement in Band award, Ashley Calame received the Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra award and Allison Rotondo received the Outstanding Achievement in Chorus award.

Erin Alvey is a principal trumpet player in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band. She is a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society.

In addition to this award, Erin is the recipient of the Christopher Dunn Music Faculty Scholarship, the New York State Field Band Conference Scholarship, the Edward Mueller Memorial Music Scholarship, and is one of `100 finalists in Hershey’s national All USA High School Band. Erin has been in All-State Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band for the last two years. Previously, she was in the New York state Honor Band and in the All-County Band and orchestra for five years.

Ashley Calame Ashley Calame - Outstanding Achievement In Orchestra Ms. Alvey’s other awards include the Grand Prize of an art scholarship with the U.S. Congressional Art Show in Washington, D.C., sponsored by Representative Carolyn McCarthy and the Charlie Morrongiello Art Scholarship. Erin is also an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar.

Allison Rotondo Allison Rotondo - Outstanding Achievement In Chorus Erin would like to acknowledge the following superb teachers for inspiring her: James P. McCrann, Brandon Psenicka, Robert Ludwig, Michael Guido, Martha Boonshaft, Eric Mordhorst and Frank Benvenuto of the Garden City Schools, as well as private teachers, Pat Dougherty and Leon Petruzzi.

Erin would also like to thank the Friends of Music for their tireless efforts to help the schools’ music departments. She is happy to receive her third Friends of Music Band Award, having accepted one in fifth grade and one in eighth grade as well.

Next September, Erin will be a Presidential scholar at Ithaca College, where she will major in trumpet performance. She is the daughter of Suzie, an artist, and Robert, a scientist.

Ashley joined the Stewart School Orchestra when she began playing the violin in the third grade. After joining the Middle School Orchestra, conducted by Mrs. Margaret Gullotta, Ashley started taking lessons from a Garden City High School student. She helped Ashley to expand her musical abilities and to appreciate her talents. Practicing and playing the violin became a way for Ashley to express herself musically. Ashley began taking lessons with a professional private violin teacher after her first teacher left for college.

In the seventh grade, Ashley auditioned for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York and was accepted to play in their concert Orchestra. It was in the tenth grade when Mrs. Gullotta asked her if she would like to begin teaching younger Garden City violin students. Immediately, Ashley decided to join the Orchestra’s recommended list of high school violin tutors because she remembered how much she loved her first violin tutor from the high school. Making an impact on younger violinists has been exciting and fulfilling ever since. She has tutored up to 13 students at one time over the past three years.

Ashley was accepted into the Modern Music Masters Honor Society (Tri-M) and joined the high school chamber Orchestra in the eleventh grade. The Chamber Orchestra is a select group of musicians that meets every week and performs at many charity functions and concerts throughout the year.

Violin has been a memorable part of Ashley’s high school experience, and one that she plans on continuing at Fairfield University this fall.

Music has always been a big part of Allison’s life. Ever since elementary school, she has been in chorus class or choir. Senior year, however, was when she really started to enjoy singing, even more than before. Allison was part of three chorus classes: Chamber Choir, Women’s Chorus and Vocal Jazz. With the help of the chorus teacher, Mr. Ludwig, she has really grown to love everything about music and singing.