Ridgewood Choral Awards Student Scholarships

The Ridgewood Choral is pleased to announce Lucas Wang, bassoonist of Ridgewood, NJ as the winner of the 2023 Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award of $2500 for excellence in instrumental or vocal performance. The award is open to a high school senior who intends to continue his or her musical education at an institute of higher learning. Instituted in 1967, the fund was later endowed by Franklin Reinauer as a memorial to his wife Florence. To date the Choral has awarded more than $55,000 to encourage talented young musicians. The awards are won via live auditions with a three judge panel. This year's judges were Lisa Bremmer, Scott Brubaker and Michael S. Caldwell.

The Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award in the amount of $1200 was instituted in 2018 in honor of Marjorie Vandervoort’s 25 years as Music Director. Tyler Kriney, baritone of Ringwood, NJ is this year’s winner.

Lucas Wang, a senior in Ridgewood High School, has been playing the bassoon since 6th grade. His musical journey began by playing piano and the occasional composing of musical scores. Through a scholarship grant during middle school, he attended and performed with the Intermediate Orchestra Symphony (ISO) at the Interlochen Arts & Music Summer Camp in Michigan. He has also been the principal bassoonist in the NJ Youth Orchestra. While in 9th grade, he qualified and played in Bergen County Band, Regional Band and All-State Band. Lucas has studied with bassoonist Lisa Alexander, and is currently studying with bassoonist Marc Goldberg through the Juilliard School Pre-College Program. Lucas participates in many of the instrumental groups offered at Ridgewood High School including, the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Tri-M Honors society, and mentoring in the District Honor Band. Lucas is also an Eagle Scout, a National Merit Finalist, and a scholar in the Governor's School of New Jersey. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking for his family, reading, and writing.

Tyler Kriney is a Senior at Hawthorne Christian Academy. He lives in Ringwood, NJ. Tyler is a baritone and will be pursuing a degree in classical voice performance this coming fall. For the past 4 years, Tyler has been studying voice/opera with Stephen Paynter from the New York Metropolitan Opera and studying with Anne Paynter, his high school music teacher, and choral director. In the last 4 years, Tyler has been a part of Servants of the King, a Christian choral group that competes and performs nationally and internationally. Tyler is a baritone section leader for Servants of the King. After college, Tyler plans to have a career in opera and perform on various stages of the world.

Mr. Wang and Mr. Kriney will perform at the Ridgewood Choral Annual Spring Concert on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 pm at West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood. Tickets are available from Choral members for $25.00, and will also be available at the door on the day of the performance for $30.00.

For more information about the Ridgewood Choral visit https://ridgewoodchoral.org/