This month, many outstanding Niles North fine arts students have received the honor of being awarded with grants. These grants can be used for private lessons, master classes, art classes, creative workshops and seminars, participation in outside dance and music ensembles and summer camps.

This year’s NNFAP fall grant awardees are:

Vincent Carbonaro, band; Hannah Doherty, band; Eric Musielski, band; Teresa Knudson, band; Nicole Knudson, band; Daniel Aisenberg, band; Brad D’Costa, band; Daniel Sahyouni, band; Nathaniel Schetter, band; Lily Shearer, band; Christopher Scheithauer, band; Gabrielle Dizon, choir; Hilary Simon, choir; Roselie Mazor, choir; Zain Dababnen, choir; Danielle Brown, choir; Ryan Loach, choir; Lauryn Schmelzer, dance; Julia Melnick, dance; Anna Hershinow, dance; David Caplan, orchestra; Ashley D’Costa, orchestra; Anna Krause, orchestra; Sidrah Ahmed, orchestra; Jacob Nagler, orchestra; Teresa Franks, theatre; Stacey Herman, theatre; and Robin Wallace, theatre.

As mentioned before, students have the opportunity to use their grants towards programs outside of school. Junior Daniel Sahyouni, who is in Niles North’s band, percussion ensemble, pep band and jazz band, is also a member of Midwestern Young Artists (MYA). “I’m using my grant to pay for my tuition for MYA. I’m in their top orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Honors Wind Symphony. We rehearse every saturday and have about 4 concerts per year. We give concerts at Pick-Staiger in Northwestern, Symphony Center, Ravinina and Millenium Park.”

Freshman Lily Shearer is yet another example of an outstanding arts students pursuing programs outside of school. “I am in band and I got the grant in order to pay for the Disney Workshop. It is over spring break and it is a workshop where we play and record Disney music with a Disney musician. We also perform at Disney World.”

This also is a great opportunity for students to explore career possibilities in the arts.

“This is actually the first year I have applied for a grant but this is kind of the perfect year for it because I’m taking a lot of classes this year, including multiple ballet and jazz classes a week as well as tap, musical theater, contemporary, and hip hop. Another reason my dance education is extremely important to me is because one of the career paths that I’m considering (in addition to being a school teacher) is being a choreographer,” said Julia Melnick, a junior who is using her grant towards the continuation of her dance lesson at the Studio North Academy of the Performing Arts in Wilmette.

Another student considering her future while using her grant is Teresa Franks, junior actress and singer. “I’ll be using the grant to help pay for private voice lessons I take. I’m planning on doing music in college so the grant is extremely helpful!”

All fine arts students have the opportunity to apply for grants by completing an application, consisting of 2 short essays expressing their plans involving their grant and their personal goals involving the activity they decide to pursue. They also must receive an endorsement from a teacher.

Students will have the opportunity to apply for a summer grant in the near future. These grants have been used for summer school classes and camps, private lessons and various summer workshops and programs. They will be announced in April.

“We have had many appreciative students let us know how grateful they are to have the opportunity to improve a skill, continue their lessons and receive the monetary support,” said Gail Paskind, president of NNFAP.

Senior Roselie Mazor is extremely appreciative of the opportunities she has been given with the grant this year. She is a participant in Niles North’s choir and Vocal Jazz. She is using her grant towards vocal lessons with her voice teacher since sophomore year. “This grant means a lot to me! I feel very lucky and honoured to have received a grant this year. My eyes have been brought to a new light in music, because I was not only taught how much power there is in music, yet how happy and life changing music can make you. I want to share this with many others so they can experience a life of music and hopefully gain something from it. Music certainly defines me and my life.”