Massapequa Singer Earns National Recognition

MASSAPEQUA, NY — The vocal talents of Massapequa High School senior Nicole Ferretti earned her a selection to the prestigious All-National Honors Ensemble mixed choir, and she attended a virtual conference in late January hosted by the National Association for Music Education.

Ferretti was part of the soprano section. In addition to performing with student-musicians from across the country, she also attended master classes on different topics such as music composition, music education and applying music theory to performance. There were several guest speakers and Ferretti said one of the highlights for her was hearing from composer Eric Whitacre.

For her audition, she submitted a video of herself singing “Do Not Go, My Love” by Richard Hageman and “Through the House Give Glimmering Light” by Quire Cleveland.

Ferretti is a member of several vocal groups at Massapequa High School, including the A Capella Choir and the Chordettes. She also plays the cello in the symphony orchestra and has a lead role in the upcoming musical production of “Anything Goes.” Outside of school, she is a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra’s Nassau Chamber Chorale.

She credits several music teachers for their support in her musical journey including her first chorus teacher, Tom Tucker at Birch Lane Elementary School, her high school chorus teachers Malcolm Gilbert at Ames and Ilena Dempsey and Nichole Greene at the main campus, and Nassau Chorale conductor Edward Norris.

Ferretti said it was an honor to represent Massapequa High School at the All-National conference and to interact with music enthusiasts from other states.

“Even though we all couldn’t be together in person,” she said, “we were still all able to make music together.”