The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York (MYO) is proud to present the top sixteen
finalists of the 2023-2024 Concerto and Vocal Competition (out of 77 applicants) in a concert on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Congregational Church of Huntington, 30 Washington Drive in Centerport. The concert is free and open to the public.

The featured performers are all Long Island-based musicians between the ages of 10 and 18:
Instrumental Finalists Division I (grades 4-8)
Maximus Lin, Cello, Age 12, Great Neck South MS, LAKE SUCCESS
Astele Liu, Violin, Age 10, Denton Ave. Elementary, ROSLYN
Nadia Sayed, Violin, Age 11, Waldorf School of Garden City, ROSLYN
Aaron Ye, Violin, Age 13, Roslyn MS, ROSLYN

Vocal Finalists Division I (grades 4-8)
Endora Dilisio, Child’s Voice, Age 11, Shelter Rock Elementary, MANHASSET
Lyssandra Nieves, Child’s Voice, Age 10, Smithtown Elementary, SMITHTOWN
Chloe Roc, Soprano, Age 13, Harbor Country Day School, MOUNT SINAI
Eirini Stavropoulos, Child’s Voice, Age 11, Buckley Country Day School, ROSLYN

Instrumental Finalists Division II (grades 9-12)
Brady Bedell, Bassoon, Age 15, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK HS, PLAINVIEW
Yuuki Donnelly, Violin, Age 15, Rocky Point HS, ROCKY POINT
Joanna Kim, Violin, Age 15, North Shore HS, GLENWOOD LANDING
Eliana Kirkup, Harp, Age 16, Kirkup Academy, SAYVILLE

Vocal Finalists Division II (grades 9-12)
Marilena Castoro, Soprano, Age 15, Smithtown HS West, SMITHTOWN
Samuel Friedmann, Bass Voice, Age 18, Great Neck North HS, GREAT NECK
Alana Muniz, Soprano, Age 16, W.C. Mepham HS, MERRICK
Breanna Prezeau, Soprano, Age 17, Longwood HS, MEDFORD

The finalists will perform their competition piece in the Congregational Church of Huntington and the winners will be chosen by an esteemed jury, including Susan Deaver, on faculty at LIU Post, MSM Pre College, and Stony Brook University; David Fryling, director of choral studies at Hofstra University; and Maureen Hynes, professional cellist and professor of conducting at the Manhattan School of Music.

The 1st place winners of the competition, one instrumentalist and one vocalist from each of the Divisions, will win a cash award in the amount of $500 each and may be able to perform as a soloist with their MYO ensemble during the 2024-2025 season.

There will also be awards for the 2nd ($200), 3rd ($100), and 4th ($50) place winners, in each of the Instrumental and Vocal categories.

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York is committed to fostering a community of talented musicians from Long Island and providing them with an opportunity to rehearse and perform choral and orchestral masterworks at the highest possible level with recognized leaders in music education and performance.

Founded in the fall of 1993 by John C. McNeur, MYO has grown from one orchestra of fifteen members to seven orchestras and eight choirs, serving over 800 musicians between the ages of 8 and 18. For more information, please visit www.myo.org or call (516) 365-6961.