Youth hit a high note

Darryl Granum, chief executive officer of Strong Side Studios on Rockaway Avenue, said he wanted to showcase the community’s rising musical stars in a venue where they could perform for family and friends. So Granum hosted a free concert at the John M. Smith Band Shell on the Village Green on Aug. 27, and about 100 people came out to see some of Valley Stream’s local, young talent perform.

“I was very excited,” Granum said of hosting the free concert. “I was happy to do it. So many parents came up to me afterwards to thank me. It was a great night.”

Granum, along with his partner Joanne Cuomo, put together the concert filled with local acts from the community. Stefania Cuomo, 13, attends Memorial Junior High School and performed a lyrical dance interpretation of “Jesus Take the Wheel,” by Carrie Underwood. Stefania choreographed the dance herself, she said, and it took her three weeks to put it together. “I like the meaning of the song, plus it’s really pretty,” she said.

Stefania added that she took lyrical dancing lessons at South High School this summer, which helped lay down the foundation for her performance.

Last Thursday night, she also performed with her group — Triple TKA — which included her twin sister, Danielle, and Valley Streamers Vanessa Cannon and Justin Mastromarino. The group took the stage with their instruments and performed one of their original songs, “Overcome.” “It was really fun,” Stefania said. “It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again.”

Justin, 14, also sang three songs while strumming his bass on stage. Other Valley Streamers that performed were three students from Central High School — April Maroshick, Kelly Maroshick and Stephanie Melendez who put on a musical dance routine. Also, South senior Elizabeth Wasek, 17, choreographed a twirling demonstration.

Emerald Fogarty, a 6-year-old first-grader who attends Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School, sang her own rendition of “Pop and Lock” and said that even though it was only the second time she has performed on stage, she wasn’t nervous. “I had such a good time,” Emerald said. “I just want to thank Darryl for being nice enough to train me. I trained for three days and Darryl was so nice to me.”

Granum said that several of the people that performed record at Strong Side Studios, and the concert was a great way to showcase the area’s youth and their musical spectrum. “The diversity of Valley Stream can be celebrated through the different sounds and talents of our community,” he said.