Spring 2024
During its recent 75th spring concert celebrating the choral music of Leonard Bernstein, the North Country Chorus presented two music awards to two area high school seniors to help them further their musical education. Ryan Carpenter of North Country Union High School in Newport, VT received the North Country Chorus High School Music Award of $1000. A special Board Appreciation Award of $500 went to Siri Jolliffe of St. Johnsbury Academy.
In presenting the awards, North Country Chorus co-president, Nicolas Anzalone, noted that Carpenter's vocal instructor said that he was “without a doubt the most promising baritone I have ever taught in over 30 years of teaching” and added that “in addition to a naturally beautiful voice, he also consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, curiosity, and persistence in pursuit of his musical studies.” Carpenter is in his high school Jazz Band, Pep Band, Select Choir, and Back-to-Basics Ensemble. Carpenter says “it feels as though music has chosen me just as much as I have chosen music.” He will be attending New England Conservatory to study vocal performance in the studio of Michael Meraw.
St. Johnsbury Academy music director Alan Rowe commended Jolliffe as an “invaluable anchor” in the soprano section of the Academy's select vocal ensemble, The Hilltones. She has also sung with the North Country Chorus, including this concert where her award was presented. Jolliffe's musical pursuits are diverse. In addition to voice and song-writing, she plays flute, ukulele, guitar, piano, and mandolin, and is active in multiple bands, including the award-winning Kingdom All Stars. She has also starred in many musical productions at the Academy, including her upcoming role as Sandy in their production of “Grease.”
Spring 2023
The award recipient this year was Aden Marcotte from St Johnsbury Academy. He is going to Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he will study music.
Spring 2022
The award recipient this year was Henry Sipples from St Johnsbury Academy. He has sung with NCC. He is going to Concordia College in Minnesota where he is studying music.
Spring 2020 and 2021
NCC was on full hiatus due to the pandemic.
Spring 2019
The first award recipient was Kaci Cochran, a senior at St Johnsbury Academy. Kaci had joined us as an instrumentalist in several NCC performances. She continued her studies at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, majoring in music.
