Victoria Pietrzak Victoria Pietrzak - Outstanding Achievement In Orchestra Congratulations to the four middle school students who received music awards sponsored by the Friends of Music. Alyssa Olivo received the Outstanding Achievement in Band award, Victoria Pietrzak received the Outstanding Achievement in Orchestra award, Sarah D’Antonio received the Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music award and Brian Hartung received the Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Music award.

Victoria Pietrzak was concert mistress for the eighth-grade orchestra under the direction of Mrs. Gullotta. She has been playing the violin for five years and participated in NYSSMA this year, receiving an A for level 6 piece. She also plays the piano and the viola. She played the violin in the Middle School Pop Band. She also performed a violin solo at the Friends of Music concert in March.

Sarah D’Antonio Sarah D’Antonio - Outstanding Achievement In Vocal Music Victoria has been a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra for the past two years and performed at the Tilles Center and Lincoln Center.

This past year she played the French Horn in the Garden City High School Marching Band. She had the opportunity to march in the Belmont Stakes Parade and played the National Anthem at Shea Stadium.

Brain Hartung Brian Hartung - Outstanding Achievement In Electronic Music Victoria has been accepted to participate in the C.W. Post Chamber Music Festival this summer. She loves playing the violin and is looking forward to playing in the Garden City High School Orchestra next year.

Music is a very important part of Sarah’s life. She participated in vocal NYSSMA twice while in middle school and was a member of the All-County Chorus in 2005. Sarah will be singing in the Long Island Masterwork’s Children’s Chorus over the summer. In addition, she performed in the 2005 middle school production of “The King and I,” in the role of Anna. Sarah has also played the piano for seven years. She accompanied the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade choruses on piano at several of the middle school’s winter and spring concerts. Sarah is also a self-taught guitarist, who sings and plays for the children’s Masses during Advent and Lent at St. Joseph’s Church in Garden City.

In sixth grade, Brian was introduced to Electronic Music by Mr. Russo. During this class, students learned about and played the electronic keyboard, electric guitar and electric drums. The keyboard is a great instrument, and it is a lot of fun to play because you can get many different sounds. The drums are also a lot of fun, but it can be very challenging to keep a steady beat. However, Brian is more interested in the electric guitar. Mr. Russo taught him about the guitar, and Brian continued to do as much as he could on his own. His dad made him start on the acoustic guitar at home, which did not please Brian at the time. Now, he is thankful for his dad’s insistence. Brian has private lessons at home with a great teacher, and he goes to a two-week camp over the summer called “Bach to Rock,” which Mr. Russo runs with the help of many other very talented people. Brian is currently in a band with a couple of friends, and they are having a lot of fun. Brian would like to give credit to Mr. Russo and his private guitar teacher, Michael Ainbinder, for helping him earn this award.