(Secaucus, NJ––June 15, 2021) High Tech’s Performing Arts students earned a total of eleven Outstanding Achievement Awards across nine different categories at the 2021 Hudson County Alliance of Teen Arts Festival, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.
The winners in the Drama category were: Kimani Culbreath and Essence Brevard-Alouidorin for “Pipeline” , and Zariyah Ford’s "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Enuf," in the categories of Small Group Drama Ensemble and Small Group Drama Solo (Monologue), respectively.
For dance, the winners for Small Group Dance were Maialen Abio and Brogan Donston––with original music composed by HTHS instructor Scott Killian––for "Remote." In addition, “Human” which was choreographed by Angelie Albino and performed by Maialen Abio, Janelle Acosta, Jazlynn Angeles, Brigitte Curi, Isabel Dadulla, Tara Dean, Isabella Delgado, Leah De los Santos, Brogan Donston, Isabella Fornataro, Sofia Gallo, Jailin Garcia, Ava Guzman, and Lucy Rieder won for Large Group Dance.
In the vocal category, Emily Maino won for her solo performance of “They Just Keep Moving the Line” and Hannah Beemer was awarded for her solo rendition of "I Want To Go To Hollywood."
The High Tech Jazz Ensemble, which consists of students Ben Rosales (piano), Willie Montanez (bass), Azalea Kollath (drums), Kalsey Colotl (tenor sax), Dana Rosen (trumpet), Reilley Peck (clarinet), and Arthur Pawley (trombone) won for "Wolverine Blues.”
In the category of Small Musical Theatre Ensemble, Jade Rodriguez and Amelia Gallagher won for "Baby, Dream Your Dreams,” while all of the musical theater majors were recognized for their performance of “What I Did For Love."
In the Open Category, with choreography and performances by Maialen Abio, Janelle Acosta, Victoria Caban, Brogan Donston, Jovy Rose Mariano, and Leah Murphy, set to an original score and composition by Maialen Abio, the multimedia piece "MMXX" took home an award, as did the original song "Nothing Stays The Same,” written by Ben Rosales, Rijah Banerjee, Naomi Jessica De Leon, Racquel Paloa, and Rod Shepard with music arranged by Ben Rosale and vocals arranged by Rijah Banerjee.
You can view the virtual performances for the pieces above and more at this showcase link.