Ridgewood Student Awarded Music Scholarship By Local Chorus

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A local music prodigy was just awarded a $1,000 scholarship from a community chorus for showing talent and promise.

Raymond Ocasio, a Ridgewood High School senior, was named this year's Thomas DeLorenzo Memorial Scholarship recipient by The Ridgewood Singers; the scholarship is named for the former chorus member DeLorenzo, who died in July 2020.

Ocasio, whose involvement in the performing arts began in first grade, will be attending college in the fall to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He was selected for the scholarship by his school's choir director, Natalie Cardillo, who said he is both a "phenomenal performer" and "exemplary student."

Each year, The Ridgewood Singers ask the choir director to select a promising high school senior who will be studying music in some capacity in college, and this year, the young baritone was named the winner, chorus director Susan LaFever told Patch.

Cast as the lead in a number of high school musicals, Ocasio has trained and honed his musical theatre and acting skills since he attended a visual and performing arts elementary school in Georgia. Since returning to New Jersey in sixth grade, he has continued to participate in the arts through his school's theatre education, and through other programs.

He has sang in his school's choir and a cappella group since his freshman year. He also plays the drums and takes private voice lessons, and will be singing two pieces for The Ridgewood Singers' concert "Curtain Up" on May 7.