Aaron Copland School of Music  Flushing, NY

2001

Kathryn Martin
Shavertown, PA

Kathryn Martin, awarded the Wright Foundation Scholarship in 2001, recently graduated from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, with a near-perfect 3.80 GPA. Besides being selected for the Dean's List each semester, Kathryn's interests extended to drama and Italian (language) as well. As a musician, she has continued to share her gifts as a wonderful flutist to audiences in solo and chamber music recitals.

2002

Tito Munoz    
Astoria, NY

Tito Munoz, Wright Foundation Scholarship recipient in 2002, is another example of a shining star of the future, for whom the Wright Foundation Scholarship had created a brilliant opportunity.

One of the most gifted violinists and young conducting talents to be seen in many years, the Wright Foundation provided the means by which Tito was able to continue his studies here at the Aaron Copland School of Music. The product of a single-parent family (mother), Tito has flourished beautifully.

An example of his accomplishments just in the past year: he conducted a special concert celebrating conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein this past spring, including selections from West Side Story and Candide, he gathered his own orchestra of students together and performed an all-Mozart program, and on a separate occasion, conducted Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" from memory (no easy task).

In the summer of 2003, Tito continued working at the French Woods Festival for the Performing Arts (for a 3rd summer) as a conductor and violin teacher. There he conducted numerous broadway musicals as well as assisted with the symphony orchestra.

This summer (2004) he will be attending the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival as a fellowship recipient. At 20, Tito will be one of the youngest to ever be accepted to this program.

He has also recently served as concertmaster of the Queens College Orchestra and the Astoria Symphony. As a soloist, he has recently appeared at Bargemusic with the Baroque Consort of New York, playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

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2003

George DiCataldo
Levittown, NY

George DiCataldo, latest recipient of the Wright Foundation Scholarship, is a gifted composer, as well as a human being of generosity of spirit. Under the guidance of composition professor and noted composer Bruce Saylor, Mr. DiCataldo is emerging as a young gifted composer with a deep expression and vitality in his music. As a service to two of his friends, both trombonists here at the School of music, George wrote a beautiful duet for two trombones, that was performed at the past spring's Awards Ceremony.

The fact that George wrote this piece as a gesture of friendship, as well as a composition unto itself, is testimony to George's spirit. His composition for percussion solo, heard last year in the Queens College Composers Concert, was filled with rhythmic vitality and fun. Professor Bruce Saylor holds George DiCataldo in the highest esteem both as a composer and a person of thought and creativity.

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2004

Gary Padmore

Gary is attending the Aaron Copland School of Music for his third year. He is an excellent trumpet player. He recently formed his own brass quintet and has been playing concerts throughout the New York City metropolitan area. This award will help Gary finish his Bachelor of Music degree program.

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