Two Half Hollow Hills students have been awarded scholarships by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
Gioianna DiGiorgio and Andrew Arloro, both from Half Hollow Hills High School, were awarded two of the four Distinction in Music Award Scholarships; students from Great Neck North and Syosset also won.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame recently announced the winners of its 2022 Music Scholarships. This year, four Distinction in Music Award Scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors who plan to study music in college and pursue a career in this endeavor.
“The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is honored to have the opportunity to support and acknowledge accomplished high school seniors who are pursuing a future in music,” said Tom Needham, LIMHoF education chairman. “The talent that exists on Long Island is something we at LIMHoF want to celebrate. In addition to following their own dreams, we believe these students will encourage and inspire others.”
Since age 7, Gioianna has performed in local community theater productions. She is interested in a career in musical theater.
“I am extremely grateful to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for this prestigious scholarship!” said Gioianna. “I am excited to receive this scholarship, as music has always been such an important part of my life.”
“I hope to entertain audiences in a variety of venues from regional theater, national tours, cruise ships to film, TV and Broadway,” Gioianna said. “More importantly, I want to tell stories to elicit emotions and perhaps even change perspectives. While some may see performing arts as a frivolous pursuit, during the pandemic, I believe the world finally understood how important the performing arts are to our lives.”
She will attend Baldwin Wallace University, where she will major in its BFA Acting program and also minor in music at its prestigious music conservatory.
Andrew is a recent graduate of Juilliard Pre-College and a current student at Half Hollow Hills High School East.
He has studied the French horn under Jen Montone, principal horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Jeff Lang, associate principal horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra; and other renowned musicians from top ensembles. He currently studies with Erik Ralske, principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera; and Brad Gemeinhardt, acting principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera.
Last year, Andrew won the Discovery Competition for Children’s Orchestra Society. He has performed solos at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center over a dozen times.
He has toured China, Spain, and Italy, and been awarded the title of principal horn in various ensembles, including Juilliard Pre-College, All-State, SCMEA, Children’s Orchestra Society, Gemini Youth Orchestras’ Festival Winds and Symphony, and Cross Campus Wind Ensemble.
He will continue his studies with Ralske next year, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance on the French Horn.
“I would like to thank the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for the amazing opportunity to work with them, create with them, and share with the world the Joy of Music,” Andrew said.
Students from Brooklyn, Nassau, Queens, Suffolk, and Brooklyn are encouraged to apply for the scholarships.