Singing their praises

Lynbrook High School students Jessica Karpov, Chelsea Carver and Beatrix Weil all qualified to perform in the 2009 New York School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Winter Conference.

This is the second consecutive year that Jessica was chosen for this honor. She and Beatrix will be singing in the All-State Women’s Chorus. Chelsea will be performing in the All-State Mixed Chorus. Their classmate Sunil Kunnakkat has been selected as an alternate to the All-State Symphonic Band.

This is one of the highest honors bestowed on high school music students in New York State. Thousands of students auditioned at the Solo Evaluation Festivals held across the state last year. All three girls received scores of A+100 performing the most difficult Level 6 music. They will be attending the annual All-State Conference on December 3-6, 2009, where they will have the distinction of performing at the renowned Eastman Theater.

Jessica is a four-time All-County musician, and a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She sings in the high school concert choir and jazz chorus, and has graced the Lynbrook High School stage in dramatic and musical productions, including the leading role in the 2008 production of The Sound of Music.

A three-time All-County musician, Chelsea is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and has performed in numerous high school dramatic productions and musicals. She demonstrated her comic acting ability as one of the Brewster sisters in the 2009 production of Arsenic and Old Lace. She is also active in the Toys for Tots Club.

Beatrix, who was named a 2010 National Merit Semifinalist, is Co-President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and President of the Spanish Club. She has also donated countless hours to the Souper Bowl of Caring, an organization that mobilizes youth to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. Through her work with this organization, she helped 30 Long Island schools organize local food drives.

Football fans may recognize Sunil as the drum major for the High School Marching Band.In addition to his involvement with the marching band, he also plays in the concert band and the pit orchestra. Sunil, who is a member of the National Honor Society, has also demonstrated a talent for writing through his involvement in Horizon, the high school newspaper, and Driftstone, the high school literary magazine.

“We congratulate all four of these students on their impressive musical accomplishments,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Santo Barbarino. “Their achievements are a reflection of both their talent and their dedication — and a source of pride for the entire district.”