Bellmore-Merrick Cultural Arts honorees feted

On May 22, many of the community’s most talented young musicians, vocalists, artists and on-stage performers gathered in one room at the Uniondale Marriott for the Bellmore-Merrick Cultural Arts Foundation’s 33rd Annual Awards Luncheon.

Twenty-one students from Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools, and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools, were honored for their achievements in the arts. After receiving their awards, the students showcased their talents with special performances and presentations, wowing the hundred-plus attendees.

Teachers recommend the students, who must be in eighth or 12th grades, to the Cultural Arts Committee. After that, the committee chooses the winners.

This year’s award recipients were Calhoun seniors Leanne Gallati for choir, Lisa Marino for art, Mark Mentzel for art, Bradley Michalakis for theater, Connelly Miller for music, Robbie Rosen for music and choir, Kerry Teemsma for art and Elizabeth Turner for music.

From Kennedy, recipients were Halley Davide for art, Nicole Ench for art, Amy Leeds for choir and Luke Massaro for music.

The Mepham recipients were Polina Bykovskaya for art, Nicholas Cipriano for choir and Nicole Didden for art.

Joshua Corwin, an eighth-grade viola player from Grand Avenue, was honored, along with Samara Ehrlich for choir and Olivia Meyer for art.

At Merrick Avenue, winners included Kristi Chan for music, Kaitlin Marie Messmer for art and Ashley Starr for choir.

Rona Weiss of the Bellmore-Merrick Cultural Arts Foundation emceed the luncheon. She was joined by her fellow members on the Board of Directors, Mary Kate Galluccio, Emily Schreiber, Wendy Tepfer, Janet Goller, Bonnie Shapiro and David Weiss.