The Ambassador Award honors a student who has gone above and beyond as an advocate for all things related to the positive experience for all in their major. This student has dedicated countless hours modeling appropriate leadership skills and independent musicianship. The Ambassador is in favor of all music and band-related activities and acts as a peer mentor to the next generation of BAVPA stars. This year, we are proud to present this award to Peyton Smardz-DeMartino. Congratulations and good luck in all your future endeavors! We are excited to see your leadership and dedication come to life in the next chapter of your story!

The Quincy Jones Musicianship Award honors an outstanding student for their creativity and musicianship in multiple areas of music. In his long musical career, Quincy Jones has done it all as a composer, arranger, performer, producer, and teacher. Every music program has those students who share this boundless energy and musical versatility and for us, that is Emmanuel Cupeles. He has spent his time at BAVPA demonstrating a natural talent and ear for music and it has been an absolute pleasure watching him grow as a musician, composer, arranger, actor, peer leader, and so much more.

The Efficiency Award honors a student who makes the most of their limited time in band and all music-related activities. The award is given to a Senior who shows an insatiable desire to learn quickly and overcome the obstacles of their limited practice and rehearsal time. This year, we present the Efficiency Award to Lu’trell Reed. Congratulations and good luck in all your future endeavors. We are excited to see where the next leg of your journey leads you!

In his long career, Bernstein made an indelible mark on the musical world as a conductor, composer, and teacher. This award honors a student whose musical contributions, dedication, and creativity set them apart as deserving of the highest recognition for their achievements. We are proud to present this award to Alex Ubiles - a student who has gone above and beyond in his dedication and commitment to performances in both Jazz Band and “In the Heights.” He brought both his technical talent and incredible ear for music and never hesitated to help his peers develop their own skills along the way. Congratulations, Alex! We can’t wait to hear what you produce next!

“Congenial” is defined as being friendly, welcoming and amiable. People who have the quality of congeniality have a gift for getting along with others and using their warm and positive demeanor to motivate and support others. We are proud to present our Mr. Congeniality award to Sabata Ferguson. Over the years, he has been nothing less than a positive leader in his major. He never hesitated to ask questions and encouraged others to find their voice. Sabata was our go-to speech giver when a fire needed to be lit for the group - especially leading up to performances. Congratulations Sabata - we look forward to seeing your strong leadership skills in action as you move into the next chapter of your life!

This award goes to someone who has worked incredibly hard within the vocal department, but is quiet about their accomplishments. These two recipients held down their section and the ensemble while being a kind face to ask questions without being judged. They worked hard each and every rehearsal for the good of the ensemble.

This award goes to a student who has acquired significant knowledge in more than one field, and in this case, those fields are both vocal music and theatre. This student can be seen as a “jack of all trades,” and she is constantly on an endeavor to become great at all she does while bringing light to those around her. She is persistently striving for change while ensuring that she is creating a better future for her community and her world.

This award goes to someone who has worked incredibly hard within the vocal department, but is quiet about their accomplishments. These two recipients held down their section and the ensemble while being a kind face to ask questions without being judged. They worked hard each and every rehearsal for the good of the ensemble.

This award goes to a student who has not only proved her vocal performance skill, but she has exhibited incredible potential as a jazz performer, composer, and arranger as well. This student showcases the creativity, determination, and perseverance that is needed for a career in jazz performance, and this award is designed to encourage this student to continue her career and creativity in this field.

This award goes to a vocal student who has grown throughout the vocal program and is now ready to inspire others with what she has learned. Even though this student will not be pursuing music after graduation, her kind, outgoing, and “Let’s do this!” personality has inspired and will inspire many as she goes into the world after high school.

This award goes to a student who has learned from her experiences at Performing Arts and is ready to move into the future as an up-and-coming artist. This student is a very talented vocalist and all-around artist, and she is excited to move to a new state and city to pursue her dreams in the music industry while letting the world truly become her oyster.