the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Demarest NJ, a select group of the Academy of the Holy Angels’ fine vocal and instrumental musicians recently earned membership in Tri-M, the Modern Music Masters Honor Society. AHA Tri-M Chapter 2150 welcomed 10 Angels who exemplify musical accomplishment, scholarship, character, leadership, and service.
Inductees to this national organization include pianist Isabella Wisniewski of Paramus; flutists Stephanie Chan of Closter, Celine Hong of Englewood Cliffs, Elise Kim of Cresskill, Georgette “Gigi” Ochs of Fair Lawn, and Francesca Rizzo of Paramus; and vocalists Zaharah Fiorentinos of Palisades Park, Nora Giannantonio of Emerson, Ellie Sawyer of Weehawken, and Victoria Velasco of Montvale.
AHA Performing Arts Director Dan Mahoney welcomed guests to the January 24 induction ceremony. The event was spearheaded by Tri-M’s student leaders and featured the talents of the honor society’s newest members.
Francesca Rizzo opened the mini-concert with “Gavotte” by Joseph Gossec. Stephanie Chan played “Andante et Scherzo” by Louis Ganne, and Celine Hong performed Reinecke’s “Flute Concerto, movement 1, op. 283.” Elise Kim chose “Sonata in F major, movement 1” by George Phillip Telemann, and Gigi Ochs performed “Arioso” from “Concerto in G major” by Johann Quantz.
Isabella Wisniewski presented “Minuet in D” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Ellie Sawyer sang “Restons Ici” by Jules Massenet, Nora Giannantonio presented “Never Enough” by Benj Pasek, and Victoria Velasco performed “Ave Maria” by Giulio Caccini.
Tri-M is sponsored by the National Association for Music Educators. This organization recognizes young musicians and strives to produce leaders in music education and advocacy. At AHA, Tri-M members work diligently to promote music at school and in the greater community.
AHA Academic Dean Carmen Quiñones noted that AHA’s Tri-M chapter is one of the most active in the area. Students organize outreach concerts, and have raised funds to benefit music education programs for young students. Tri-M has raised funds to support an after school program that empowers young people through music, and a non-profit that purchases instruments for young musicians who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own.
The Tri-M Executive Board for 2021-2022 includes President Samantha Shah, Vice President Faith Youn, Secretary Olivia Papp, Archivist Annalise Olsen, and Public Relations Officer Arielle Maravilla.
Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.
315 HILLSIDE AVENUE, DEMAREST, NJ 07627
201.768.7822 | HOLYANGELS.ORG
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