NA Music Association Hosts 2022 Music Department Award Ceremony

The North Andover Music Association was pleased to host the annual North Andover High School Music Department Award Ceremony on Thursday, June 16th, during which a number of music students, teachers, and volunteers were recognized.

Previously announced during the NAHS Scholarship Knight event, NAMA acknowledged ten deserving recipients of its college scholarship awards. A North Andover Music Association Scholarship Award was presented to Courtney Igbinosa, Marie Hearst, Lamya Benchekroun, and Kyle Burns. A NAMA Community Music Award was received by Christopher Noroian, Sydney Phillips, and Bianca Muñoz, and a NAMA Spirit Award was presented to Emma Cirame, Alexander Kissel, and Natalie Harwood.

Also named at Scholarship Knight, Marie Hearst was acknowledged as the recipient of the 2022 James R. Fulks Music Award.

Courtney Igbinosa, Henry Wright, and Luke Ralph each received a plaque to commemorate their participation in the MMEA Northeast Senior District and All-State Festivals. Igbinosa and Wright were also recognized for their participation in the ACDA Eastern Division Conference, and Wright received additional acknowledgement with a NAfME All National Award.

Band Director Justin Smalley presented the following band awards: Band Rookie of the Year, Michael Faucher; Outstanding Brass Award, Christopher Passariello; Outstanding Woodwind Award, Tyler Murray; Most Improved Woodwind Award, Jaidyn Claffey; Percussion Award, Christopher Noroian; Band Unsung Hero, Priyanka Kumar and Maria Mangiameli; Band Spirit Award, Jacob Leising; Band Director’s Award, Natalie Harwood; National School Marching Award, Fritz Aude; Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Alex Kissel; John Philip Sousa Award, Kyle Burns; Drum Major Awards, Lamya Benchekroun and Marie Hearst.

Additionally, Lexi Lippman was recognized for outstanding dedication to color guard.

Choir Director Sara Durkin presented the following chorus awards: Choral Rookie of the Year, Riley Knapp; Chorus Outstanding Underclassman, Cole Brimmer; Chorus Outstanding Upperclassman, Jake White; Concert Choir MVP, Will Palavicini; Treble Choir MVP, Meg Murphy; Scarlet and Black MVP, Natalie Lynch; Outstanding Musicianship Award, Anye Kachulis-Moriarty; Choral Spirit Award, Mia Gouveia; Choral Service Award, Stephanie Carpenito and Adriana Uribe-Rodriguez; Chorus Unsung Hero, Anthony Pagan; Chorus Director’s Award, Jenna Bard and Bianca Munoz; National Choral Award, Aidan Loth and Courtney Igbinosa.

As part of the ceremony, all attending members of the class of 2022 received a white rose in recognition of their music program participation, and varsity letters were presented to 3-year music students.

NAMA was pleased to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of NAMS music teachers, Chris Nelson, Andrea Liacos, and Matthew Ignos, NAHS music teachers, Justin Smalley, Sara Durkin, and Tim Clark, as well as retiring NAMA board members, Natalie Kissel, Helaine Posnick, Vicky Vissering, and Amy Ferguson.

For more NAPS music news, visit the North Andover Music Association at www.northandovermusic.org. Follow NAMA on Twitter @namamusic and on Facebook @northandovermusic.