Baroque Orchestra of NJ Awards Platt Scholarships

The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey awarded its Cynthia Platt Scholarship to two individuals at its January 14th concert at Grace Church in Madison NJ. The winners were Al LaBarca and Avery Scott.

Mr. LaBarca, known as AJ, is a 16 year old junior at Syosset High School, Syosset NY. He plays cello, piano and alto saxophone. AJ has won multiple awards in solo and ensemble competition. He is also an honors student who holds a leadership position in his school's Tri-M Council. AJ is in the Chamber Club , Jazz Ensemble , Marching Band and Pit Orchestra at school. Additionally, AJ is interested in science especially astrophysics, robotics and engineering. He was president and founder of the NASA club in his Middle School and has participated in Science Olympiads and conducted advanced science research leading to an Outstanding achievement award in science.

In his application for the Platt Scholarship AJ stated "I hope that my music as well as my scientific skills will someday benefit regional , national and international communities."

Mr. LaBarca has been studying under Ivy Chatanow since age 5 at the Virtuoso Suzuki Academy. He is a member of many regional and community orchestras in addition to his school groups. Also, Mr. LaBarca performs at nursing homes and at church events with several ensembles

Mr. LaBarca's awards as an Instrumental Soloist:

Winner Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2015 (cello); Grand Prix winner, Russian Festival, 2016 cello (won a performance in Paris); 1st prize, The Music of America International Competition,2017 (piano).

Mr. LaBarca's awards as an Ensemble instrumentalist:

Winner Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, 2015 cello (with the HB Thompson quartet); First Place winner, Concerto competition 2015 (cello duo with sister); Winner best ensemble, Paris UNESCO artist for peace 2016 cello (LaBarca family trio); Winner LISFA ensemble, 2017 cello (SHS Shubert piano trio)

Mr. LaBarca's Special Music Awards

Tilles Scholar, 2015 (cello); Most Musically Diverse, peer award, Tri-M 2016; Master Class Igor Volochine, 2016 (cello); Master Class Maureen Hynes, 2017 (cello)

Mr. Avery Scott is a 16 year old sophomore. His focus is playing violin and he became a student at age three. He plays with the New York Young Musicians Ensemble associated with the Virtuoso Suzuki Academy on Long Island and with the Long Island Youth Orchestra. He has also performed as a guest with the Long Island University Post Orchestra. He has won several music awards.

Mr. Scott also plays guitar and piano. He has a lifelong love of the musical theatre and sang earlier in life. In addition he plays pop music and studies modern , computer -based music and has composed music for short films he has written and directed.

Mr. Scott is an avid student of history and he states in his application "...I've noted one common denominator between all periods of time - music has been present in every one of them. But for me, music is more than simply beautiful sound, and is more than just something that's fun to play and listen to. It's a tool: a tool to bring about change." Mr. Scott thinks that his favorite musical Hamilton is an example of music as a tool for change as it has broken the traditional Broadway model by using rap songs instead of show tunes. Mr. Scott hopes and thinks it will also be a harbinger of a new future and a better world.

In addition to musical activities, Mr. Scott is an avid writer, photographer, activist, filmmaker and bird watcher. In 2016 he won the American Birding Association Association's Young Birder of the Year award for his work in community service, photography and writing

Mr. Scott's awards as an Ensemble instrumentalist

Winner of Outstanding Ensemble at the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival in 2017 for quartet presentation of Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 in C minor.

Mr. Scott's Special Music Awards

Twice achieved the highest level of "Distinction" on the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exam.

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The Cynthia Platt Scholarship awards are one part of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey's mission to support the development of young musicians. The Cynthia Platt awards are presented in memory of Ms. Platt, a musical colleague and friend of Dr. Robert Butts, the musical director and a founder of the BONJ. She participated in many activities to encourage young musicians in her lifetime.

The Pearl & Julius Young Music Competition, scheduled for March 11 in 2018, is another part of this mission. Winners of the annual competition have an opportunity to play with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, usually during the Summer Music Festival in August. Many young artists are members of the Orchestra as well.

The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey www.baroqueorchestra.org , was founded in 1996 with music of the 17th and 18th century at its core. The group performs a variety of genres from concertos to symphonies to operas. Under the auspices of its Artistic Director Maestro Butts, the orchestra’s repertoire has expanded to include 20th century and modern pieces by the likes of Joaquin Rodrigo and others.