Sayville Senior Sax Player Awarded Music Lovers Scholarship

This article was written by Linda Mittiga. It was posted by Judy Mottl.

The Sayville Music program has so many talented students, many of whom have distinguished themselves with stellar performances. One such noteworthy instance involves Sayville High School Senior Kieran Harrison.

Recently, Kieran Harrison won the “Music Lovers Scholarship” from the nonprofit group that promotes music on the island. It’s open to high school senior music applicants from the Towns of Islip and Babylon.

During the two days of preliminary rounds, Kieran auditioned and earned a spot as one of 10 chosen for the finals. Kieran had to perform one more time before winning one of the four “Music Lovers Scholarship” that would be awarded. After, as a scholarship winner, Kieran performed in a special concert with his accompanist,

Luiza Raab-Pontecorvo who is a professor of Horn at Hofstra, at which time he was awarded the scholarship money. In addition, Kieran was chosen as this year’s “outstanding soloist” by the Atlantic Wind Symphony.

The band awards one student every year for which the “prize” is to play a full solo with the Atlantic Wind Symphony at their June concert! Kieran will be playing the same piece he performed for the Music Lovers Scholarhsip concert, this  time accompanied by the entire symphony.

Next fall, Kieran will be attending college for music education at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He will be studying with the world famous sax performer, Dale Underwood,who awarded him a full tuition scholarship, based upon Kieran’s audition.