Easton Music Boosters Award Six Scholarships

’s Instrumental Music Association awarded scholarships to six graduating seniors who excelled musically, academically, civically and in demonstrating leadership.

The Taylor Lambert scholarship was awarded to Kaitlyn Vangelo, while the other scholarships presented at this month’s IMA Banquet went to Tyler Drago, Matthew Pasch, Gretchen Perhamus, Paul Piccotti and Erik Ritter.

"They are talented musicians, active in school and community activities, achieve academically, and are leaders in our instrumental program,” said IMA Scholarship Committee Chairwoman Susan Charlton.

Vangelo, who plays tuba and sousaphone, was section leader in marching band, concert band and symphony orchestra, and also performed in brass quintet, pep band, the Allentown Band Side by Side Concert, Susquehanna Honors Band Festival and Kutztown University Brass Day. A member of National Honor Society and Italian National Honor Society, as well as Astronomy Club and the Italian Cultural Committee, she plans to attend Slippery Rock University and major in management.

Drago, a trumpet player, leader and officer in many of the high school’s performing ensembles, participated in marching band, concert band, orchestra, jazz lab, jazz band, pit orchestra and brass quintet. He also received top honors performing with Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District and Regional Orchestras, and District, Regional and All-State Concert Band and Wind Ensemble. A member of the NHS and Italian National Honor Society, Drago plans to attend Penn State and study medicine, specifically neurology.

Pasch performed on trumpet and French horn while participating in jazz lab, jazz ensemble, marching band, concert band, pit and symphony orchestra. A member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, he has received awards as a Mock Trial participant and also participated in Model UN. He is attending Lehigh University in the fall to study civil engineering.

Perhamus, an NHS member and AP Scholar with Distinction, performed with the PMEA District and Regional Orchestras, as well as in concert and marching bands and chamber strings, pit and symphony orchestra, where she was principal viola and orchestra president. She also performs in many youth and community orchestras in and outside the Lehigh Valley. Perhamus plans to attend Penn State in the fall and major in musicology as she pursues her dream of continuing with music both as a music scholar and performer.

Piccotti, an NHS member who received first-place honors in the PA Junior Academy of Science regional and state competitions and varsity letterman in cross country and indoor track, played alto saxophone in marching and concert bands, pep band, jazz lab, jazz band and pit orchestra, often with first chair honors, and string bass in symphony orchestra. He plans to attend George Washington University and pursue a career in medicine.

Ritter is a National Merit Finalist, Presidential Scholar nominee, and a member of NHS, Future Business Leaders of America and the Scholastic Scrimmage team.  He has participated in indoor track, track and field, and was named captain of the cross country team. His extensive list of music participation as pianist and percussionist includes marching band, pep band, concert band, orchestra, chamber strings, pit orchestra, jazz band and jazz combo.  He will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology with a major in computer science to pursue his dream of working for a major computer software/technology corporation or starting his own company.

The $750 scholarships were awarded after the Scholarship Committee – Charlton, Mary Beth Buza, Bonnie Callahan, Shelly Gottlieb, Donna Van Norman, Robert Walsh and EAHS instrumental music director Carole Lutte – evaluated anonymous applications in the areas of musical involvement, academics, school activities, community service and character, using a pre-established point system. Additionally, the Taylor Lambert scholarship is given in memory of the former band member and recognizes the student who best exemplifies the traits demonstrated by Taylor.