Woodlands Academy Musicians Win Big in the Big Apple

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart's music department won a variety of top awards - both group and individual - during the WorldStrides Heritage Festival, April 17-20, in New York City.

The all-girls college prep high school in Lake Forest was the smallest of the 13 schools representing 12 different states and two schools from Canada that competed. The honors its musicians brought home included:

• Gold award for the Kaleidoscope choir, under the direction of Elizabeth Kurowski

• Invitation for Kaleidoscope to perform at the Festival at Carnegie Hall - specifically to participate in the National Invitational Festival of Gold and 2016-17 National Youth Choir Festival at Carnegie Hall

• Gold award for Microscope, student-led chamber choir under the direction of senior Chloe Tomkins of Lake Forest

• Silver award to Woodlands Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Lauren Moldenhauer

• Outstanding Orchestra Group trophy - given to the highest scoring instrumental/chamber ensemble (Woodlands' score was one point shy of Gold. Thus, there were no Gold awards in this category.)

Other highlights include the two prestigious individual honors won by Tomkins:

• Ovation Award - presented to the one student selected to represent the entire festival population of nearly 2,000 participants, in recognition of the leadership skills Tomkins presented as well as her sense of caring and community for her group's singers, along with her stellar accomplishment of directing a Gold award choir.

• Maestro Award - given to a student whose performance stood out as exceptional to the judges. Tomkins received it for her work directing, organizing and teaching the music to Microscope students.

Also receiving a Maestro Award at the New York City festival was senior Lilly

McAveeny of Lake Forest for her exceptional solo in the Kaleidoscope's performance of "El Vito."

"I am so proud of the accomplishments of all of our fine musicians," said

Kurowski, head of Woodlands' music department. "The choral and

instrumental students have truly become one music community, sharing and

rejoicing together with their various achievements. I am grateful that the Woodlands administration and our families continue to support and encourage this most valuable program."

The community will have the opportunity to hear the musical selections performed in New York City - plus others - when the choirs and orchestra perform at 7 p.m. May 14 during Woodlands Academy's annual Fine Arts Festival.

Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org