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Annual Hickory Tree Chorus Scholarship
The Basking Ridge, NJ-based Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International is pleased to offer its annual $1,000 Scholarship to an area high school senior who intends to pursue a career in music. This scholarship will be given to a young woman selected on the basis of her application and her vocal musical talent. Presentation of the check to the recipient is usually in June, after her acceptance to the college or university of her choice.
Each student should complete the application and submit a CD which should include at least two vocal performances, demonstrating her particular talent. Both the application and CD should be received by April 21, 2012. Please no DVD's.
Request an application through your high school guidance office or by e-mailing: lynnmacbeth@comcast.net.
Below you can meet our recent scholarship recipients: 2011 – Tess Oldfield, 2010 – Alessandra Altieri, 2009 – Virginia Hixson, 2008 – April Bender, 2007 – Carianne Bennett and Lauren Kahn, 2006 – Chelsea Friedlander, 2005 – Katlyn Lucio, 2004 – Ashley Ann Koning, 2003 – Elise Figa, 2002 – Cassandra Lambros, and 2001 – Nili Riemer.
2011 Scholarship Winner – Tess Oldfield
Tess Oldfield, a recent graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School in Hampton, NJ, intends to pursue a career in music. She was selected for the Hickory Tree Chorus Scholarship on the basis of her excellent vocal talent, her accomplishments and her commitment to sharing her passion for music with young choristers.
Oldfield is a soprano who discovered her love of singing while performing with the Children's Chorus of Sussex County under the direction of Deborah Mello. At Kittatinny, she was a member of the Chamber Choir and the Madrigal Singers, performing musical roles such as Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!, Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grace Farrell in Annie and most notably, Belle in Beauty and The Beast. She also enjoys singing popular music at her school's Open Mic Nights and Faculty Follies. She currently studies classical voice with Amy Shoremount-Obra.
Oldfield believes in the power of music to change the world. "Music has been my safe haven and my way of expression in my life," she states. "Music changed my world, and now I hope to change other people's world by performing and teaching music."
Oldfield has performed in the US, Canada, Italy, Brazil and Argentina in such venues as the National Cathedral, The White House, Saint Peter's Basilica, Saint Mark's Cathedral in Venice, and The Candelaria Cathedral in Rio De Janiero. This summer she will be touring the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The highlight of this trip is her performance at the Sint Stevenstoren in the city of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, where she was born.
In the fall, she will be attending Ithaca College with a dual major in Vocal Performance and Music Education.
2010 Scholarship Winner – Alessandra Altieri
Alessandra Altieri, a recent graduate of Randolph High School, was a member of its Concert and Chamber Choirs for four years. She also peer taught the Treble Choir for one semester and conducted a piece with them in Randolph's Spring Choral Concert. She served as Vice President and Music Librarian of the Randolph High School Choir Council and President of the Drama Club. Alessandra participated each year in Randolph's spring musical; her favorite role was Maria in The Sound of Music, which she performed her sophomore year of high school. She also auditioned successfully and participated for three and four years respectively in the New Jersey All-State and North Jersey Region Choirs.
At her church, St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Alessandra is an active member in the Teen Choir and acted as a Youth Assistant in the Children's Choir for the past 2 years. Last summer, she was accepted to and participated in the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp Vocal Soloist Studies Program. She spent four weeks in Interlochen, Michigan taking acting, diction, and music history classes from the highly esteemed faculty. The program culminated in a recital of opera scenes, in which Alessandra sang the part of "Amahl" in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Most recently, Alessandra participated in the nationwide Classical Singer High School Competition. She placed 3rd in her regional auditions and continued on to the semifinals in New York City where she placed within the top 30.
Alessandra will be attending Manhattan School of Music in the fall of 2010, pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance.
2009 Scholarship Winner – Virginia Hixson
Virginia Hixson of Bridgewater has been awarded the 2009 Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International Annual Scholarship. The chorus awards the $1,000 scholarship to an area high school senior girl with a good academic record and exceptional talent in vocal music who has applied for acceptance into a music program at a college or university.
Hixson is a June 2009 graduate of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School where she was a member of the Choir. She served as the Alto II section leader and was also accepted into the Chamber Choir where she sang alto II, and served as tenor section leader.
"I was the only 'tenalto' in my chamber choir," says Virginia.
She also studied Music Theory and, as a senior, gave sight-singing lessons to freshmen and sophomore choir students. She is the youngest member of her church choir where she sings with her father, Dana Hixson. Virginia is currently the youngest member of the Hickory Tree Chorus, singing baritone. She performs regularly with the chorus and participated in both Regional and International competitions since joining the chorus in May 2007.
Hixson will attend The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ where she will major in mathematics and minor in music. Virginia has, since eighth grade, dreamed of becoming a mathematics teacher and now also dreams of becoming a Sweet Adelines International chorus director.
Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. Hickory Tree Chorus rehearses and welcomes guests Wednesdays in New Providence, NJ.
2008 Scholarship Winner – April Bender
April Bender began her career as a singer-songwriter at the age of three. A 2008 graduate of Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, she was involved in every choir program offered, including the Chorale, Concert Choir and select A Cappella Choir, serving as Co-Vice President and Soprano 1 Section Leader.
She participated in outside choirs including The New Jersey Youth Chorus, All-State Chorus. As a recipient of the Jeffrey Carollo Music Scholarship from 2004-2008 she studied opera with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), was appointed NJPAC's Student Ambassador for Classical Voice, and participated in NJPAC's Summer Youth Music Program.
In 2007, April was one of fifteen singer-songwriters chosen from across the country to attend The Grammy Foundation's "Grammy Camp" in Los Angeles where she worked with top music producers, songwriters, and artists.
As a contemporary singer-songwriter who plays piano and guitar, she has over four hundred original songs to her credit. She is a regular performer at The Bitter End in New York City and performed at CBGB's Rock Club shortly before its closing. April was the only semi-finalist to perform an original song for WOR Radio's 2007 Shining Star Contest. At Trumpet's Jazz Club in Montclair, April was awarded her own show as a winner of the New Jersey Idol singing Contest in 2007. At the request of Sri Lankan national celebrity, Patronella Fernando, April wrote Hope for Healing, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the 2004 tsunami. April sang before New York Knicks and New York Liberty basketball crowds at Madison Square Garden.
April will continue her musical studies with New York vocal coach Dr. William Riley. In fall 2008 she will attend Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA majoring in music education while continuing to pursue her career as a singer-songwriter.
2007 Scholarship Winners – Carianne Bennett & Lauren Kahn
Carianne Bennett and Lauren Kahn were named recipients of the 2007 Hickory Tree Chorus Music Scholarship. Carianne is the daughter of Linda and Lee Bennett of Millington. Lauren is the daughter of Carolyn Schmidt and Dan Kahn of Gillette. For the first time in its 20 year history, the scholarship was awarded to two young women who are members of Hickory Tree Chorus. Both very talented, deserving winners are 2007 graduates of Watchung Hills Regional High School.
Carianne Bennett will major in Vocal Studies at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. Her extensive musical background includes participation in the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, placing as high as second; participation in the Spoleto Arts Symposium in Italy, performing the role of Mother in Hansel and Gretel; and acceptance to the All-State Opera Festival.
Lauren Kahn will major in Physics and minor in Music at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. A member of the National Honor Society and a Bloustein Distinguished Scholar, Lauren was recognized by Watchung Hills Regional High School for Outstanding Achievement in both Calculus and French. She has studied voice, piano, music theory, and arranging, and has participated in the New Jersey Youth Chorus, Central New Jersey Regions Chorus, and the New Jersey All-State Chorus.
In conjunction with her Advanced Placement Physics class, Lauren Kahn conducted independent research regarding the ties between physics and vocal pedagogy, with Carianne Bennett assisting in the project.
Both young women have performed with Hickory Tree Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, and with Capriccio, a registered Sweet Adelines quartet. In competitions with the chorus, they have been named Regional Champions, and with Capriccio, they have placed as high as third at the Sweet Adelines's Rising Star Quartet Competition (2005).
2006 Scholarship Winner – Chelsea Friedlander
Hickory Tree Chorus' 2005 Scholarship winner, Chelsea Rose Friedlander, daughter of Dr. Brian S. Friedlander and Helene B. Friedlander of Long Valley, graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music on May 15, 2010 with her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. Ms. Friedlander was presented with the Max Berman Memorial Award for Outstanding Vocal Performance at the convocation.
In 2010, Ms. Friedlander won First Place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Buckeye Region (Ohio), Second Place in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, Fourth Place in the Irma M. Cooper Opera Columbus Competition and was a Finalist in the Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition, New York Lyric Opera Theatre Vocal Competition Division: I and the Dayton Opera Guild College Division Tri-State Vocal Competition.
In fall 2010, Ms. Friedlander will attend the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, in New York, for her Masters of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, where her mother received her Bachelor's and Masters in Piano Performance. Ms. Friedlander will study with the head of the Vocal Department, Maitland Peters.
2005 Scholarship Winner – Katlyn Lucio
Hickory Tree Chorus is proud to present its 2005 Scholarship winner, Katlyn Lucio, who graduated in 2005 from Sparta High School. Katlyn Lucio has been filling the world with music since the age of six. She has had formal training on the piano and violin. She has enjoyed 12 years of competitive dancing in ballet, jazz and tap. She has even taken master tap classes with Savion Glover.
At the age of 16, Katlyn decided to change her focus from dance to singing. In her freshmen year of high school she joined the select choir, the concert choir, the regional choir and the all-state choir. She has continued these and many more choirs throughout her last four years of high school. Just recently she performed with the Select Choir at Carnegie Hall. Katlyn has achieved the second highest Alto II score in the New Jersey state choir and has been nominated for the New Jersey Governor's Award.
As a member of the rock band, Fascination Autumn, Katlyn as appeared in numerous concerts and was the youngest band to become regular performers at CBGB's, a New York City nightclub. Most recently, Katlyn performed the lead role in the Sparta High School production of Little Shop of Horrors to rave reviews. Academically, Katlyn has a GPA of 4.0 and was accepted to the University of Delaware, where she will major in Music Performance.
Katlyn also does charitable engagements. She does solo vocal work, small group engagements, and vocal accompaniment with a jazz band. Katlyn is a regular singer of the National Anthem at local sporting events and community service events. She works with Pass it Along, a local community volunteer group and has performed for many senior citizen events, both in dance and voice.
2004 Scholarship Winner – Ashley Ann Koning
Hickory Tree Chorus is proud to present its 2004 Scholarship winner, Ashley Ann Koning, who graduated in 2004 from Bridgewater Raritan High School. While a student there, Ashley was a member of the Women's Chorus, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Lorelei selectwoman's ensemble. She performed on multiple occasions as a soloist in these choirs and had major roles in her high school musical productions of Into the Woods, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Wizard of Oz, and The Pirates of Penzance throughout her four years. For her role as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, she received a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star nomination in the category of best supporting actress. Ashley was also part of the NJ Teen Art's Program for Somerset County, advancing each time as an outstanding vocal soloist to the state level at The College of New Jersey.
Ashley enrolled in fall 2004 at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA as both a John Marshall Academic Scholar and a Music Scholar. In her first year, she participated in four of the school's theatrical productions, including the satirical musical Of Thee I Sing. She was also selected to perform a solo in the annual Broadway Revue, as well as participate in many of the other numbers. In addition, the college's music department chose Ashley to enroll in private lessons for credit with acclaimed soprano Gwynne Geyer. She performed her first voice recital in April 2005, singing solo pieces of various genres. She will partake in such a recital each semester. Ashley has decided to pursue a minor in musical performance, building her repertoire to eventually perform her own voice recital in her senior year. While at home, she will continue to study voice and vocal technique under the direction of Mr. Michael Stuempfle.
2003 Scholarship Winner – Elise Figa
Hickory Tree Chorus is proud to present its 2003 Scholarship winner, Elise Figa, daughter of Fred and Janice Figa of Randolph. As a recent graduate of Randolph High School, Elise Figa was a member of every choral group, including the Concert Choir, Touring Choir and Women’s Ensemble. She also enjoyed working as the Student Director of these ensembles, rehearsing the groups during school and conducting musical pieces at concerts. In the seventh grade, she started becoming active in the NJSMA/NJMEA Junior Regional, Senior Regional, and All-State Choruses. Placing first in the state, Elise was honored to be selected the Soprano Section Leader of the 2003 NJ All-State Chorus. By means of this honor, she had the opportunity to perform with the 2003 MENC All-Eastern Honors Chorus in Providence, RI.
Elise is also very active in Music Ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, where she has worked as the Music Intern and sings in many choirs. Two of those ensembles, The Canzonetta Singers and the Ringers on the Green (a high-school handbell choir), released full-length compact discs in the fall. The Ringers have toured Bermuda, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina and Maine, performing for nursing home residents, church services and several community events.
In July, Elise will perform for Hickory Tree Chorus and be presented with her award. The chorus, in turn, will perform for her and her family. In the fall, this talented young woman will attend the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where she will study Music Education and Voice.
2002 Scholarship Winner – Cassandra Lambros
Hickory Tree Chorus is proud to present its 2002 Scholarship winner, Cassandra Lambros. Cassandra has a most impressive background and extensive musical experience both as a violinist and classical soprano. She was a member of the 2001 New Jersey All-State Orchestra and New Jersey Region II High School Orchestra for three years. She has appeared for the South Plainfield Cultural Arts Commission as featured violinist for four years, as soloist with the Westfield Solo Concerto Orchestra, under the direction of her teacher, Steve Wolosonovitch, and in a program for The National Arts Club Pastel Society in New York City.
Cassandra began voice studies with her mother Louise Lambros and more recently, studied with Sonia Lewis and Emily Golden, both of Westfield. She won silver medal in the Little Opera of New Jersey 2002 Young Vocal Artists Competition in February and has done solo work with the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth.
In addition, Cassandra presented Sarasate’s "Zigeunerweisen" and Masse’s coloratura aria "Air du Rossignol" with the Westfield Solo Concerto Orchestra in June 2002, in Westfield. Awarded a Plainfield Musical Club Scholarship, she played for them at a dinner in June 2002.
Cassandra’s poetry has been included in the 2001 Edition of The International Society of Poetry Anthology. Her biography appears in the 34th, 35th, and 36th Editions of Who’s Who Among American High School Students and the 2002 Edition of National English Merit Award. An honor and high honor roll student every year in high school, she has also found time to serve as an aide in the St. George Greek Orthodox Church Sunday School First Grade for four years.
Cassandra graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School and has begun to pursue her music career at Rutger’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is the daughter of Ted and Louise Lambros of Warren and has an older brother, Ted, who is in college.
2001 Scholarship Winner – Nili Riemer
Nili Riemer is a coloratura soprano who has been involved with singing since her early years growing up in Israel.
Nili has been studying opera for the past four years with a private teacher, and she is now pursuing a double degree program at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and Tufts University, where she is double majoring in Vocal Performance and International Relations.
In addition to the Sweet Adelines/Hickory Tree Chorus Music Scholarship, she also won the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts classical voice award, and she has been recognized by the Presidential Scholars Committee in the Arts.
Currently, Nili is participating in Tufts University's only Jewish a cappella group, "Shir Appeal," which recently toured California. At NEC, she takes master classes and performs with the NEC Chorus.
In the future, look for Nili anywhere from Broadway to the Met!
