The Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHoF) is proud to announce the winners of its fifth annual High School Music Department Recognition Program. For the first time, video entries were accepted that showcased the amazing music that schools created under unbelievably difficult conditions and pandemic restrictions.
Both the LIMHoF Education committee and a panel of music educators reviewed the videos that were submitted from each school. As a result, 12 Long Island high school music programs were awarded recognition wins and celebrated via video format. For the first time in its history, music performance videos from each applicant have been posted to LIMHoF’s website. And some high schools submitted multiple videos to showcase their different music groups.
The schools receiving this prestigious recognition are Centereach HS, Farmingdale HS, Great Neck North HS, Great Neck South HS, Half Hollow Hills HS East, Harborfields HS, Hicksville HS, Kellenberg Memorial HS, Long Beach HS, Lynbrook HS, Southampton HS, Wheatley HS
During the pandemic, school music programs in particular were dealing with incredible restrictions due to social distancing and remote learning, which created major difficulty for students learning to play music. Music is a collaborative process and students need to be able to play music together. A lot of schools made it work, and we wanted to showcase their accomplishments under the circumstances. These schools found a way to do something great. The students overcame tremendous odds. This showcases, and is a tribute, to the students who adapted to a difficult situation.
-Tom Needham, Education Chairman of LIMHoF
For more information on the High School Music Department Recognition Program or Education scholarships and grants offered by LIMHoF, visit limusichalloffame.org/scholarshipsgrants.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame has announced the awarding of its 2021 student scholarships. This year LIMHOF acknowledged four students with the $500 Distinction in Music award for their accomplishments.
This year’s winners are Elias Giuliano of Northport; Emily Howell of Plainview; Lauren Enos of Riverhead; and Anthony Barone of Mastic.
“The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is honored to have the opportunity to support and acknowledge accomplished high school seniors who are pursuing a future in music… The talent that exists on Long Island is something we at LIMHoF want to celebrate. In addition to following their own dreams, we believe these students will encourage and inspire others.”
LIMHoF Education Chairman Tom Needham
Left to right, top to bottom: Elias Giuliano of Northport; Emily Howell of Plainview; Lauren Enos of Riverhead; and Anthony Barone of Mastic, were the recipients of the 2021 Long Island Music Hall of Fame Distinction in Music Award.
Here are the for LIMHoF award winners:
Elias Giuliano, who attends Northport High School, plays viola in the symphony orchestra and piano in the jazz ensemble. He received accolades for his original compositions of piano music. “Elias possesses the versatility of a first-rate composer, performer, and mentor to so many students. He is an outstanding musician and person,” said Dr. Frank Doyle — who was awarded by LIMHoF as Music Educator of Note in 2016.
“I am honored and thrilled to be a LIMHoF scholarship recipient,” Giuliano said. “As an aspiring music teacher who wants to make music a lasting part of my life — and hopefully the lives of many others — I am humbled to be recognized by some of Long Island’s most amazing talent.”
Giuliano plans to attend SUNY Fredonia this fall and major in Music Education.
Emily Howell, who attends Plainview Old Bethpage High School, plays the French horn. In addition to recognition as a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-Eastern Symphony Orchestra, she was also a member of the 2019 All-State Wind Ensemble and 2020 All-State Symphony Orchestra as a principal horn.
“Music provides a mode of expression and gives hope in a way that nothing else can; it truly enriches my life,” Howell said. “Music provides comfort and solace at all times — and especially in today’s unsettled times. Whether it might be at a funeral (where music truly heals), or a wedding (where music commemorates and celebrates), or simply in my living room or kitchen (where some type of live or recorded music is always going), music has an emotional role and influential presence. It is a vehicle for communication, an art of sound that expresses emotions, thoughts, and ideas through harmonies, rhythms and melody: The ultimate universal language that speaks to everyone.”
Howell plans to attend Julliard School of Music and major in performance on French horn.
Lauren Enos, who attends Riverhead High School, has been playing music since the third grade. She currently plays bass clarinet, and she participated in the All-State 2020 Wind Ensemble and was principal clarinet in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State 2019 Symphony Orchestra.
“It is a great honor to receive an award from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and to be among some of the most distinguished musicians on Long Island,” Enos said. “I appreciate the generosity of this organization in their efforts to help musicians like me further their musical endeavors.”
Enos plans to attend Eastman School of Music in Rochester.
Anthony Barone, who attends William Floyd High School, plays double bass in the William Floyd High School Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. He also participated in the All-State 2019 and 2020 Symphony Orchestra and the New York Youth Symphony. “Anthony is the real deal,” said William Floyd Symphonic Orchestra Director Christopher Shaughnessy about Barone, “…One of the hardest working students I have ever met.”
“Music has made me what I am now, and in my heart of hearts, music is who I am,” said Barone. “I will become a teacher to not only spread my appreciation of music, but to also help those, like me, through music.”
Barone plans to attend Ithaca College this fall and major in Bass Performance.
Students in Brooklyn, Nassau, Queens, and Suffolk counties are eligible to apply for the scholarships. This program is in addition to other education acknowledgments that the Long Island Music Hall of Fame sponsors, including the Music Educator of Note and the High School Recognition Awards. Learn more about LIMHoF’s scholarship program HERE.
