Board of Education Presents East, West Students with Music Awards

The Smithtown Board of Education presented awards to more than 30 students from both West and East High Schools for their musical accomplishments and selection to both the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All County and All State Musical Festivals.

Eight students were selected from East and three from West for the All State musical festival, including East junior Noelle Eichenlaub and West junior Amanda Levy, who were both selected for the choir.

"It was great, it was an honor because I've worked so hard for my accomplishments so it was very nice to be recognized," Eichenlaub said.

"I've never had this happen to me before, it's really an honor because I love music and I love performing so it's great to be recognized for it," Levy said.

Eichenlaub's mother Josaphine Negron joined her at the meeting, who is also her voice teacher.

Levy, who was also selected to the All County festival, said her musical achievements are the result of endless practice and participating in musical theater.

"I have a voice teacher and I do a lot of musical theater to practice," she said. "I just practice all the time and it's a lot of work but it definitely pays off as long as you work hard for it."

Joseph Matragrano

Elena Faverio

Matthew Ross

Amanda Levy

Eric Gratta

Joshua Greenblatt

Erin Purdie

Noelle Eichenlaub

Raymond Weber

2010 NYSSMA All County Musical Festival Selections

Ryan Isabelle

Elena Faverio

Lauren Kinane

Courtney Lawrence

Joseph Matragrano

Sarah Randazzo

Stephanie Messana

Arielle Cerini

Matthew Ross

Jessica D'Angelo

Evan Shenkman

Natasha Mitchko

Despina Bubaris

April Beard

Joshua Greenblatt

Sabrina Brengel

Andrew Kerper

John Taormina

Courtney Loiacono

Elena Faverio

Erin Purdie

Cristen Feeney

Raymond Weber

Amanda Levy

Lindsay Wellinger

Gianluca Farina

Eric Gratta

Brian Madden

Danielle Gambardella

Deanna Grunenberg

Katie Skopkowski