2024
Carter West
Carter is a college-bound 2024 home-educated graduate. Carter began at-home education his kindergarten year, using Abeka Academy, a Christian-based accredited academic program. He excels academically, and has achieved a perfect GPA throughout his high school years. He is an attentive and dedicated student.
Carter started music education as a piano student at the age of eight, receiving private, weekly lessons. Many years later, he began voice lessons. Carter began private, weekly violin lessons at the age of sixteen, and has been playing just a little over two years. In that time, he has excelled at twice the pace of the average string player. Concurrently, he began guitar lessons the same year. Carter’s love of music and desire to learn more formally, has made for a music-rich experience, enabling him to grow and perform as a functional musician. His passion for music is clear to those around him. His violin, in particular, goes everywhere with him, including the beach, vacations, and on camping trips. Carter has played at events with ReadyPlay Studio, as well as for the Tri-County Art Show at the Dulles State Office Building this spring, along with his brothers and another ReadyPlay violinist. Carter also routinely plays with the worship team for their church services, including events such as Christmas Eve services and more. Carter participated for the first time in the 2024 NYYSMA solo festival. Despite being both away for two weeks directly before his performance, and arriving home sick, he achieved a perfect score on his solo.
Carter has a bright and thoughtful personality; this, and his optimism and sensitivity in putting others before himself, make him a joy to be around. Carter enjoys being active and making the most out of life. He especially enjoys snowboarding, hiking, camping and participating in faith-based youth events. Carter spends most of his time with his family, yet, the most important thing in Carter’s life is his faith. He has a true passion for Christ. It guides him in his daily life.
Carter’s future plans include continuing to develop music in all aspects of his life. He will begin college in the fall of 2025, with intentions to join the New York State Police, in his father’s footsteps.
Congratulations, Carter!
2021
Sterling Brownell
View Sterling’s Senior Photo Album
Sterling began violin at the age of eight, receiving lessons from fiddle instructor, Sharon Clemens of Osceola, daughter of co-founder of the New York State fiddlers association. He then continued his fiddle lessons with Jackie Hobbs, who occupied President of New York State Fiddler’s Association. Sterling also received piano and percussion lessons at a young age.
At the age of 10, Sterling began classical training with ReadyPlay Studio founder, Fausta Poste - BIO here.
Sterling continued to be an active participant of Fiddlin’ Future, a youth chapter of the New York State Fiddler’s Association, participated with the Trillium music center, founded by Agnes McCarthy, (Watertown, NY), in their string ensemble/orchestra, as well received supplemental violin lessons from retired professor Dr. John Lindsey of the Crain school of music in Potsdam, performed in NYSSMA solo and ensemble festivals, including Area All-State Festivals. In 2017/2018, he attended the Crane school of music summer camp where he occupied first chair and received the honor of concertmaster, respectively, in 2018, all under the direction and weekly instruction of Mrs. Poste, working on music literature, specifically relating to the material he was using in both his personal study of music, geared toward his future aspirations toward college auditions as a violinist, as well as for the solo and ensemble work he was preparing for.
As an adolescent, Sterling composed and copyrighted a number of fiddle tunes. He has performed at local farmers’ markets, events at the View arts center, Old Forge, local malls, nursing homes, the Remsen Art Center, the Cream Cheese Festival, parades and events, the art festivals in Cooperstown and Ithaca, the New York State Fair, private parties, and weddings. Of special note, sterling was interviewed, along with peer fiddlers in the New York State fair, and played for the morning program, Bridge Street. He also performed with musicians at the Roxbury Arts Group summer festival, was a camp counselor for Kids Kamp at the Old Time Fiddler’s Hall of Fame and Museum, and in high school, was featured on NPR for his compositional work.
Sterling graduated from the Town of Webb High School, Old Forge, NY. He plans to attend Fredonia State University, majoring in music composition.
Well done, Sterling!
2020
Kathleen Muller
View Kathleen's Senior Photo Album
Kathleen is a 2020 graduate of Adirondack Central, a National Honor Society member, and has been awarded a presidential scholarship to Russell Sage College.
Aside from academic achievements, Kathleen is a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Boonville, where she’s served on the altar for many years. She has a longtime history of dance, having begun classes for ballet, tap, jazz, and clog at age four, and was a member of Girl Scouts for many years.
Supported by her parents, both music teachers, her siblings, family, and friends, Kathleen has a rich history as an all-around musician. She began private lessons on the violin at age six, began the xylophone at nine, was a member of her school choral group since fifth grade, and most recently, has taken up the cello.
Kathleen’s performances, including solo, small ensemble, band, and orchestra, have been varied and many. Some of these include participating in NYSSMA solo festivals for violin and xylophone since 2012, being selected, based on NYSSMA solo scores, to participate in All-County ensembles for chorus, band, and orchestra, as well as landing a seat in Area All-State for xylophone, based on a level VI NYSSMA solo score.
In addition, Kathleen has been a member of the Trillium Music Center, located in Watertown, NY, which works in partnership with students of ReadyPlay Studio, offering classes and performance opportunities. There, Kathleen participated in classes, seasonal concerts, and fiddle performances. As a member of the Trillium Fiddlers, performances included private events, as well as public events, featuring performances at the Watertown Irish Festival. She also performed as a soloist and in ensembles for ReadyPlay studio concerts and for community events, such as South Lewis School’s Art Show, hosted by the Turin Library.
Having started her musicianship as a violinist twelve years ago, as a personal student of mine and a member of Trillium, I am so very proud of Kathleen’s achievements! I would like to especially recognize her commitment and dedication to her lessons and growth/success on the violin, and more recently, cello. Musically and otherwise, Kathleen was always prepared, always participatory, always dependable. Kathleen’s weekly lessons were refreshing, and her skills were an asset to all the ensembles she participated in.
Although Kathleen was unable to participate in her senior recitals for dance and violin, due to the recent pandemic and subsequent changes that music, art, and dance studios have undergone, her achievements are no less measurable, commendable, and successful!
Kathleen’s career goal is to become a movie screenwriter, and she now prepares to enter the next phase of life within the Contemporary Writing degree program at Russell Sage College.
Congratulations, Kathleen!
Carryn Oleksy
View Carryn’s Senior Photo Album
Carryn Oleksy is a college-bound 2019 home-educated graduate, residing in Boonville, N.Y.
Carryn began at-home education in third grade, through the accredited Abeka Academy program, headquartered in Pensacola, F.L. In addition, she was an active member of the local AYSO group from kindergarten onward, participated in dance, and was a valued member of a youth bowling league for several years. Carryn was a ten-year youth participant within the AWANA program at her church, Lyons Falls Bible Fellowship, and has since served the past three-and-a-half additional years as a youth assistant within these AWANA programs. She has also been an integral member of their music worship team since 2015.
Carryn loves photography and delights family and friends with stunning images of creation - sunsets and flowers – some of her favorite subjects. In 2019, she was fortunate to have traveled to Israel along with her church family; something she’s always wanted to experience. Carryn is working to financially contribute toward a future travel experience to England or Paris. She continues to play for her church music worship team, and was also asked to play a wedding during each of the 2017, 2018, and 2020 seasons.
From her earliest years, Carryn always had an interest in playing the violin. She began formal, classical training on the violin at the age of ten, receiving weekly, private lessons. Carryn participated in several NYSSMA solo festivals for violin. Subsequently, she began lessons on the cello, and continues with virtual, weekly violin lessons even amid the pandemic. Carryn’s musical training didn’t begin with orchestral strings, however. She had begun lessons on the piano in third grade, and continued through 2018. She also received lessons on ukulele, guitar, and trumpet. Carryn’s exposure to music and the diverse exploration and training she received was supported by a family that is no stranger to music; mom accompanies Carryn on the piano, sister duets with her as an accomplished flautist, and dad had played the violin in his youth.
Carryn was always a breath of fresh air during lessons and performances. She was prepared, undertook her practice content in a serious manner, was dedicated, responsible, respectful, cooperative, participatory, and always had a smile on her face and a great love for music. Carryn was unable to perform her senior solo in the studio concert this season due to the pandemic, but as with our other seniors, her achievements are no less measurable, commendable, and successful!
Carryn looks to the future with hope and plans to pursue much of what she loves. She would like to attend MVCC for photography, as a part-time student in the fall semester of 2020. Additionally, she is taking concrete steps toward becoming a full-time student in ‘21/’22 in biblical studies, at either Landmark Baptist College, F.L. or Pensacola Christian College, F.L., as well as for music (undeclared major, and university TBD).
Congratulations, Carryn!
2014
Gabriella Zehr
Ella, as she is fondly addressed, along with her two siblings, began private lessons at ReadyPlay Studio in 2006. The Zehr children had begun their string training in Potsdam, N.Y. before relocation to Lewis County. Ella has been very active on violin throughout the years, participating in many music-related opportunities, including the following activities and events:
· Participation with the Trillium Music Center’s ensembles, concerts and workshops
· Participation with the JCC orchestra (Watertown, NY) 2011 - 2013
· Performed church offertory solos and ensemble work with the worship team
· Attendance at the highly regarded Maine Summer Youth Music, or MSYM, summer music camp program, for three consecutive summers
· Performed for several wedding ceremonies
· Participated in NYSSMA Solo and All-County festivals
· Participated as a competitor in the Young Instrumentalist Concerto Competition at the Crane School of Music
· Three-time missionary in Haiti at the ages of 10, 15 & 17 using her violin as a means of ministry to the people
In April of 2013, Ella selected a piece she would prepare for use in both the Concerto Competition as well as her college audition. She began serious work on the piece in September of 2013, and has successfully performed the five-page piece; Dmitri Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto in C Major, from memory, taking third place within the 2014 Concerto Competition and passing her college audition in April 2014. Due to the success of her audition, the music department awarded Ella an unexpected scholarship toward her studies in music with the violin. Ella is an accomplished visual artist and has received numerous awards for her artwork at various shows throughout the region. She is enrolled at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY, to begin classes in the fall of 2014. Ella was offered scholarships for both art and violin, and will pursue a double major degree in Studio Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Ella is a 2014 high school graduate as a home school student. She received her diploma at the Rochester Commencement Ceremony in May.
Congratulations, Ella!
Andrea Peters
Andrea became interested in the violin as a second grade student in 2003 when she entered a group class offered by Fausta Poste, at St. Peter’s School. A great love began to grow between herself and the violin. Since then, Andrea has immersed herself in the world of music and has embraced any opportunity to participate in music-related activities, festivals, performances, workshops and
competitions. Andrea’s love for music goes beyond the boundaries of a string instrumentalist as she is also accomplished on clarinet, piano, guitar, and as a vocalist. Some of the many events she has participated in include:
· Participation in NYSSMA solo festivals from 2001-2004
· All County Festivals
· Area All State, 1st violin
· Attended Conference All State Mixed and Women’s Choral Festivals
· Participation in Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble & Select Choir
· Participation with the Trillium Music Center’s ensembles, concerts and workshops
· Member of St. Stephen’s Music Ministry since 2005, to include playing for services and occasional funerals
· Performs with the Lowville Village Band, since 2009
· Has performed approximately 10 weddings since 2011
· Provides solo music on violin for school-related events
· Volunteers to perform at adult homes and nursing homes
· Participated as a competitor in the Young Instrumentalist Concerto Competition at the Crane School of Music
Andrea was prompted to think about the possibility of a career in music therapy when she was in 8th grade, while speaking with a music professional about her future. She began preparation for the college audition process nine months in advance, as she explored, selected, and began working on her audition requirements.
Andrea successfully passed her audition within the string department at Nazareth, receiving the fullest awarded scholarship. She is now enrolled to begin classes in the fall and will pursue a B.A. in Music Therapy. Andrea is a 2014 high school graduate from Beaver Falls Central.
Congratulations, Andrea!
Elizabeth Jennings
Elizabeth began playing the violin at home at age 6 and continued to play for one year. She then took some time away from the violin for five years. She began lessons with her first teacher when she was 11. Elizabeth also became involved with the Trillium Music Center at that time, where Mrs. Poste was on staff along with her then current teacher. Elizabeth began lessons with Mrs. Poste when she was fifteen and has been with the studio since that time. Elizabeth has twice participated in the in- house solo performance opportunity at the music center and has participated in fiddle camp, located in Osceola, NY. She has played along with a local music artist multiple times, as part of an accompaniment ensemble. She began playing along with her church’s worship team in 2012 and continues to do so. Elizabeth is engaged to be married and will be coaching gymnastics this fall, as well as will teach a ballet class in Lowville, N.Y. Elizabeth is a 2014 high school graduate who received her diploma at the Commencement Ceremony in Rochester, NY in May.