Stroudsburg, PA – The 24th Annual Pocono Arts Council Youth in Music Excellence Awards were held on Saturday, March 5, at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg. At that time, students in grades three through twelve competed for cash awards. Award sponsors included the Council, David R. Heller, Monroe County Bar Association Foundation, Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts, William and Barbara Cramer, Charles Cahn, Friedman Electric, Kilareski Orthodontics, John Murphy, CPA, Northampton Community College-Monroe Campus, Robert & Sheila Tice, David & Meghan Williamson, Harvey Feldman, Casey Molino Dunn, and Muses, graces & Fates Academy. Thanks to these generous sponsors twenty-two awards were available this year and a total of $2000 was distributed. Seventy-nine students from throughout the county participated in the competition. Evaluators for the day were Caris Visentin-Liebman and Doris Hollenbach-Rudnick. Winners in the junior performance categories received a $50 cash award. Winners in the senior, ensembles and jazz improvisation categories received a $100 cash award. Two special $250 Senior Honor Awards were given.
The 2011 Youth in Music Excellence Award Winners are:
SENIOR INSTRUMENTAL HONOR AWARDS: Lynda Chryst, Home-Schooled, East Stroudsburg, and Bethany Randall, Stroudsburg High School.
JUNIOR INSTRUMENTAL: Vincent Grados, East Stroudsburg Elementary, and Sophia Rostock, Stroudsburg Junior High School.
JUNIOR COMPOSITION: Brian Smith, Stroudsburg Junior High School.
JUNIOR ENSEMBLE: Ivana Primer and NIa Esposito, Violin Duet, Home-Schooled, Tobyhanna, and Cathy & Cindy Li, Piano Duet, Middle Smithfield Elementary & Lehman Intermediate.
JUNIOR VOCAL: Anne Palmer, Pocono Elementary Center; Sarah Bauch, Monsignor McHugh; and Victoria Janel Padmos, Swiftwater Intermediate.
SENIOR INSTRUMENTAL: Victoria Visceglia and Bethany Randall, Stroudsburg High School; and Lynda Chryst, Home-Schooled, East Stroudsburg.
SENIOR COMPOSITION: Bethany Randall, Stroudsburg High School.
SENIOR ENSEMBLE: Lynda Chryst & Bethany Randall, Piano Duet, Home-Schooled and Stroudsburg High School; and Urbane Gospel Choir Pocono Mountain West High School.
SENIOR VOCAL – POPULAR DIVISION: Kelsey Lewis, Pocono Mountain West Junior High School and Erin Baker, East Stroudsburg High School South. Honorable Mention: Chrisanna Rock, Pocono Mountain East High School.
SENIOR VOCAL – CLASSICAL DIVISION: Theresa Houtz and Bethany Randall, Stroudsburg High School. Honorable Mention: Anita Parker, Evergreen Community School.
The Pocono Arts Council is a local arts service organization serving Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. The mission of the council is to build the community artistically and culturally by providing leadership, service and education – “Culture Builds Community.” Further information can be found by visiting its website, www.poconoarts.org. Anyone interested in participating in next year’s event, please call the PoconoArts office at 570-476-4460 to be put on a mailing list.
