Four students from Malverne High School have been recognized as All-State musicians by the New York State School Music Association, the most students from Malverne to be honored in 20 years.
Two of them, 17-year-old senior Jaden Blue and 15-year-old junior Natalie Severe, have been selected for All-State Chorus and will sing at the All-State Winter Conference in December. Juniors Zhayden Tomlinson and Jacob Sandoval, both 16, are All-State Alternatives.
Each student earned a score of 100 on the NYSSMA Level VI solo evaluation, a score that guarantees that they are recognized. Severe, who sings alto — the other three are basses — aced the evaluation despite being sick last spring, when it took place.
“I honestly didn’t expect to be able to get in,” Severe said. “The fact that I got in, I’m honored and I’m still really shocked.”
Severe’s family moved to Malverne when she was in second grade. She cites musical theater as a big inspiration, having started performing in seventh grade, in “Seussical.” She was “hooked” after that, she said. She plans to major in musical theater at either Marymount Manhattan College or Ithaca College.
Sandoval also plans to study musical theater, citing the first Broadway show he saw, “Frozen,” when he was 6, as inspiration for getting into music and performing arts. “Watching those people onstage showed me where I want to be in life,” Sandoval said, “and I knew ever since then that’s what my calling was.”
Though the solo was stressful, Sandoval cites the practice and sight-reading he did to prepare as reasons why he knew he would do well. He said he dreams of going to college at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, with the California Institute of the Arts as a second option.
Tomlinson credited his time spent in Malverne High School’s music department as his inspiration. He took part in stage crew as an eighth-grader, when his family moved to Malverne, before performing in musicals in high school. He joined the band and the Select Choir as well, and said that the choir prepared him for this test.
“Although I was timid at first, it did help me find my voice and helped me find my passion,” Tomlinson said.
This was the second time Tomlinson took the evaluation, having scored a 93 the first time and focused on improving his skill to get a perfect score this time. He hopes to attend Ithaca College or the University of North Carolina after he graduates, and plans to major in musical theater or music education.
Blue is the only senior in the group, and is applying to the University of Maryland, the University of Connecticut and other colleges this year. He started singing in church, and continued in the high school’s Select Choir program, which opened many doors for him.
“Getting into All-State is like a dream come true because I never thought I would be able to get this opportunity,” said Blue, who plans to major in technical theater in college, and to continue singing.
“This accomplishment reflects the hard work, perseverance and passion these students bring to their craft every day,” Malverne High’s choral director, Ken Zagare, said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing them represent Malverne with distinction at the All-State Festival.”
Michael Messina, the district’s supervisor of music and fine arts, pointed out that three of the four students got their start in musical theater. “It’s great to hear that they’re talking about theater and the music program as one, because I’ve worked to make sure everything is connected,” Messina said, “so they get a comprehensive music education in all different areas.”
Messina also mentioned the work of Zagare, who is responsible for many of the opportunities the students have. “For a small school to have four [All-State musicians], it’s really a tribute to the work he has done,” Messina said.
The All-State Winter Conference will take place in Rochester Dec. 3 to 6.
