Neil Hook Vocal Music Scholarship recipient for 2025

Kacey Clement is beyond honored to receive the Neil Hook Vocal Scholarship! He will be graduating from Shenendehowa High School this Spring and is committed to the School of Music within SUNY New Paltz for the Fall. Kacey has been writing music his whole life, in addition to participating in many different Musicals and Choir groups. He has played guitar for ten years and has written numerous songs in that time. Kacey would like to thank his family first and foremost. His sister started his musical journey, and his parents have always encouraged it. Kacey would also like to thank his vocal teacher Casey Gray for everything he has taught him over the years. And lastly, Kacey would like to thank all his teachers, friends, and role models who have helped him find his voice, in more ways than one.

Chelsea Ben Aoumeur, a senior at Shenendehowa High School, serves as Vice President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In addition to organizing open mics and music-volunteering, she directs the Mentor Program, pairing high school mentors with middle school mentees to foster musical growth in a supportive environment. Chelsea has been a flutist for 8 years, saxophonist for 5, and vocalist for 10, participating in her school’s Wind Ensemble, Concert Jazz Band, and honors choirs: “Choraliers” and “Bella Voce”. Notable mentors include Bradley Gregg, Elizabeth Mars, Brian Carucci, and Andrew

Lammly. In the summer, Chelsea volunteers at “Shen Summer Adventures Musical Theatre Camp”.  There she can be found teaching acting, singing, and dancing, to over 100 students, under the guidance of Corey Moon and Timothy Antonacci. Chelsea plans to pursue a healthcare profession while continuing her musical journey at the University at Albany, integrating music into her practice. 

Kaitlyn Bechand is a senior at Tamarac High School, where she currently is the President of the Secondary School Choral Program. She plans events for all music students in grades 6-12 and plays an important role in choral concerts.  Kaitlyn is also active in the band playing the flute and serves as Vice-President of the High School Band, where she assists with various leadership duties.  She also independently plays guitar, and this is another large part of her enjoyment of music as it has allowed her to become fluent in another instrument outside of the band.  After graduation, Kaitlyn will attend UAlbany with a double major in Political Science and Music.  She will be in the 3+3 program with Albany Law School to continue her education in the legal field with an ultimate goal of obtaining her doctorate in law, while maintaining her love and practice of vocal and instrumental music. 

Soprano, Emily Bailey, a graduate of The King’s School, Corinth, NY, has been awarded a 2020 Neil Hook Vocal Music Scholarship. While at King’s School, she excelled in all aspects of academics, musicology and dramatic presentation, under the direction of Kellie Girling. Coming from a musical family, Emily has enjoyed singing since she was quite young, but has studied serious vocal performance for several years, with Miriam Enman, director of the SUNY Adirondack Chorale. Emily has many credits to her name. She was selected to sing with the Hudson River Chorale and perform this past December with the SUNY Adirondack Chorale and their Voice Studio Recital. She also performed with the Opera Company of Middlebury in “Tosca” and with The King’s School in “Scrooge”. Additionally, Emily has served as a church and youth worship leader on many occasions.  Emily plans to study music performance and technical theater at SUNY Potsdam, with the hope of a career in music and theater production.

Soprano, Haley Surprenant, a graduate of Averill Park High School, has been awarded a 2020 Neil Hook Vocal Music Scholarship. While at Averill Park, she was an ambitious and talented student and earned All-State-level prominence as a violinist. Haley has been an active vocalist for eight years, studying with Sarah Christy and privately, at the vocal studio of Mimi O’Neil, of Albany, NY. Some achievements include scores of 100 at the All State level in both the 10th and 11th grades. These accomplishments allowed her to attend All-State, All Eastern and the All-Nationals Honors Ensembles. Haley also competed in the Schmidt Vocal Arts Institute. She was awarded the “Director’s Award” for Chorus. This award is given to a student that demonstrates outstanding contributions and achievements.Haley hopes to pursue a career in music education and voice performance. She will be attending The Crane School of Music to pursue Music Education this Fall.  

Soprano, Nadia Ashman, has been awarded the Neil Hook Vocal Music Scholarship. She is a senior at Voorheesville High School and has been an active vocalist for nine years. Highlights include performing in Saratoga Opera’s: “The Witches of Venice”, singing in the “Melodies of Christmas Chorale” and achieving a score of 100 on her level 6 NYSSMA solo this past spring. This allowed her to be accepted into the Allstate chorus. She currently sings with the Capital District Youth Chorale, under the direction of Diane Warner and the select chorus at Voorheesville High School, under the direction of Mary Abba. She has competed in many local competitions, earning first place in the high school division of the 2017 Rachmaninoff Competition and third place in the 2016 ENY/NATS Art Song Festival. This year, she placed second place in the adult division of the Rachmaninoff Competition. Nadia studies voice with Fran Wittmann and is interested in pursuing a career in classical singing and education. She has been accepted into the Music education program at the college of St. Rose, Albany, NY.

Danielle Ferris, who is a senior at Shaker high school, was chosen as the third recipient of the Neil Hook Music Scholarship. She has always loved singing from a very young age, and she began taking vocal lessons in 6th grade. Since then, she has participated in the NYSSMA Solo Festival every year. Her performance of “The Black Swan” last year earned her a spot in the All-State Mixed Chorus. Throughout her four years in high school, where she studied with Karen Amedio, Amy Kimbler and Tyler Thomas, she has been a member of Chorus, Orchestra, Select Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Women’s Barbershop Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, and the Theatre Department. An excellent student, Danielle is also very involved in volunteer work, specifically through The Church at Newtown Road. There she is the worship leader of the youth team. This summer Danielle will be going on a “missions trip” to England, as well as returning to the local sites she served last summer. In the fall, Danielle will begin her studies in Music Education at The Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College, in hopes of one day becoming a music teacher.

Justin Jasiewicz was chosen as the second Neil Hook Music Scholarship recipient. He maintained an excellent academic record at Loudonville Christian School. He participated in several vocal competitions, art song festivals, and over 20 theatrical productions in the capital region. He had leading roles in several of these productions and was cast as the leading role in Pippin at the Proctors Theater School of the Performing Arts. He has studied voice with Corine Salon, vocal coaching with Michael Clement, dance with Freddy Ramirez and acting with Lora Lee Icobelli. Justin plans to continue his education at the American Music and Dramatic Academy, in New York City. 

Eugene Lorini was chosen as the first Neil Hook Music Scholarship recipient.  He began studying mallet instruments and snare drum in fourth grade, added piano in fifth grade, and by middle school had added all the other percussion instruments. As a Senior at Albany High School, he was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Select Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Men’s Choir, and the Pit Orchestra for the Theater Ensemble. He played in the Empire State Wind Orchestra and Youth Percussion Ensemble, and the College of Saint Rose Symphonic Band. In addition, Eugene gives piano lessons at the Albany Boy’s and Girl’s Club as part of the Rising Stars Program. He will attend the College of Saint Rose in the fall as a full-time music education major. Eugene’s career goal is to become a band teacher in public schools in the Capital Region. He lives in Albany with his parents and sister.