OCEAN CITY – The Scheible Encore Society and the Friends of the Ocean City Pops held its ninth annual student competition May 1, at the Ocean City Music Pier.
According to a release, this contest is designed to promote high school musicians in their piano, instrumental or vocal training by offering a venue for solo performance and prize money for the top artists.
The judges this year were Bill Schieble, retired conductor of the Ocean City Pops, Angel Lofreddo, retired choral director at Mainland High School, and Greg DiBona, recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music.
The master of ceremonies was Stephen Gring, former superintendent of Unionville High School and amateur pianist.
Thirty students from 10 high schools performed this year from Cape May and Atlantic counties.
Vocal Awards:
$1,000 Grace Mozitis, Mainland HS
$500 Alan Rendzak, Middle Twp HS
$500 Ted Guzman, Egg Harbor Twp HS
$250 Lena Gougherty, Middle Twp HS
Instrumental Awards:
$1,000 Maura Olivero, Trumpet, Lower Cape May Reg. HS
$250 Cristina Barbella, Saxophone, Ocean City HS
Piano Awards:
$1,000 Hans-Derek Yu, Home-Schooled
$500 Dennis Xu, Mainland Reg. HS
$250 Alex DeStefano, Holy Spirit HS