Warwick Valley High School musicians and artists commended for their accomplishments

Warwick - The Warwick Valley School Board recognized the musical and artist accomplishments of some of the district’s high school students at its Dec. 14 meeting. The music awards given were in recognition for the orchestra students’ participation in two honors orchestras. Participating in the All-State Symphony Orchestra was senior viola player Brianna Rzeznik, who was one of 196 violin, viola, cello and string bass players from all New York State high schools, selected through her New York State School Music Association All-State solo last spring to participate in the prestigious ensemble. Brianna was one of 30 junior and senior violists to participate. The festival was held at the Eastman Theater in Rochester in early December. The second award was given in recognition for orchestra students’ participation in the Area All-State Symphony Orchestra. Peter Moore (freshmen-string bass) Cristina Martin (senior-string bass) Julia Rupp (sophomore-cello) Brianna Rzeznik (senior-viola) Vicky Triola (senior-viola) Laura Brohm (senior-violin) Lauren Armand (sophomore-violin) They represented WVHS as one of the best from the five-county area on their instrument. Students were selected to participate based on their performances of the New York State School Music Association All-State and Level 6 solos last spring. The Area All-State Festival was held the weekend of Nov. 19-20 at Wallkill Senior High School in Ulster County. Art students Meanwhile, the commended art students included senior Quinn Desibia, recognized for her participation in the Vernon Invitational Art Show; junior Eliza Bender, recognized for her participation in the Vernon Invitational Art Show and winning “Best in Show” there; senior Nicole Buonforte, recognized for her participation in the Albert Wisner Library show and her leadership as Art Club president; and senior Katharine Nitschke, recognized for her participation in the Albert Wisner Library show. Art students who were recognized but not present at the meeting include senior Sara Giarratano, recognized for winning the Orange County Arts Council Youth with Exceptional Promise Award, for participating in the Warwick Valley Library Art Show for the month of November and for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show; senior Jessica Stevens, recognized for participating in the Warwick Valley Library Art Show for the month of November and for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show; senior Emma Lillian, recognized for participating in the Warwick Valley Library Art Show for the month of November; senior Thomas Loforese, recognized for participating in the Warwick Valley Library Art Show for the month of November and for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show; senior Sophia Cockerham, recognized for participating in the Warwick Valley Library Art Show for the month of November; junior Rachel Knuth, recognized for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show; senior Connor Smith, recognized for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show; sophomore Emily Gerbehy, recognized for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show; and senior Alyssa Ciummo, recognized for being chosen for the Vernon Invitational Art Show.