East Meadow teen selected to All-National Orchestra

For musicians, practice is a way of life. Countless hours, often repetitious, are spent honing skills.

All-National violinist Alison Verderber, 17, takes practice seriously. So much so, that her longtime instructor links her success to his student’s meticulous training methods. 

“She learned the craft for preparing for performance, and preparing for life,” said longtime instructor Dr. Dale Stuckenbruck. 

Verderber, an East Meadow resident and senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, received word last week that she was named to the All-National Honor Orchestra, a selective group of only 76 musicians selected to perform at a special concert in June at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The event is sponsored by the National Association for Music Education. 

“I didn’t really think I was going to get in,” she said. “Then my teacher told me. I was shocked.”

Robert Taffet, the orchestra director at Kellenberg, nominated her for the distinction, and was the one to deliver the news to his student. 

“She’s a superlative musician,” Taffet said, “a very accomplished violinist with a tremendous work ethic and huge talent behind it.”

Verderber will join the group in Washington on June 23 for a busy three days that include rehearsals, tours of famous landmarks and the All-National Honor Orchestra concert on June 26.  

Prior to reaching All-Nationals, Verderber has enjoyed success locally, with multiple selections to the All-County, All-State and Metropolitan Youth orchestras. She also won the Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar-Artist Award in 2010.

Verderber participated in prestigious summer music programs, including the New York Summer School of the Arts, the C.W. Post Chamber Music Festival and the East Meadow Summer Music Program. 

Music has extra meaning for the teen and her family. Her mother, Shannon, is a private voice teacher and pianist, while her father, Ron, is the choral director for the Jericho School District.