Five Long Island Student Musicians Receive Scholarship to Attend Huntington's Usdan Center

For the third year, five talented Long Island music students will receive a unique opportunity to study and perform this summer at Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts.  The program was developed by Usdan Center in 2011 and supported with a charitable grant from Bethpage Federal Credit Union. The Usdan Center/Bethpage Scholar in the Arts program gives accomplished students who otherwise couldn’t attend Usdan, the opportunity to study at the country’s largest not-for-profit summer arts day camp.  The students were chosen for their fine musicianship and for their achievements as outstanding representatives of their communities.

Usdan’s Executive Director, Dale Lewis recently spoke of the program’s track record of success: “We are proud to continue this unique partnership with Bethpage Federal Credit Union, one of our region’s most prominent leaders in corporate philanthropy.   Kirk Kordeleski, President and CEO, and his wonderful staff, have given a great opportunity to talented young Long Island musicians, and we are delighted to continue this wonderful tradition.”  Kerry Discioarro, Coordinator of the program, adds “We are particularly excited about this year’s students, who combine amazing qualities of musical talent, academic excellence and fine character.”

The Usdan/Bethpage program is unique in that five Bethpage community branches will, in effect, “adopt” one of the program’s students, with each receiving recognition in their Bethpage community branch for the remainder of the year. The students were introduced to their Bethpage branch sponsors at a June reception at Usdan Center.   

“Bethpage is proud supporter of Usdan and its many invaluable initiatives and programs that offer countless benefits to the Long Island community and its many young artists,” said Kirk Kordeleski, President & CEO, Bethpage.  “This unique scholarship program provides five deserving art students, who otherwise would not be able to do so, the opportunity to study on the world-class Usdan campus.  I am very excited for each of them.”       

The winners of the Usdan/Bethpage Scholar in the Arts program are: from Huntington, Jordan Williams, a Junior at Elwood John Glenn High School. He will study Trumpet and Chorus at Usdan, performing this summer with Band IV; from Melville, Cara Jacobson is a Junior at Half Hollow Hills East High School. She comes to Usdan this summer as a Music Staff Intern, and will perform with the Senior Chorus and the Select Chamber Choir.  From North Babylon, Abraham Pierre is an Eighth Grade student at Robert Moses Middle School. He will study Tenor Saxophone this summer, and will perform with Band IV and in the Jazz Ensemble as well; from Commack, Joseph Tanay-Noto is a Junior at Commack High School. A cellist, he comes to Usdan this summer as a Music Staff Intern and will perform with Orchestra IV and the Senior Chorus; and from Levittown, Jordi Ariel Lotito is a Senior at WT Clarke High School. A violinist, she comes to Usdan this summer as a Music Staff Intern, and will perform with Orchestra IV and the Senior Chorus.