Music Awards
The Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award and The Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award
The Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award. The Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award for excellence in vocal or instrumental performance is given annually to a high school senior intending to continue his or her musical education at a school of higher learning.
The Ridgewood Choral Scholarship Fund was instituted by the Choral in 1967, and five years later, B. Franklin Reinauer endowed the fund as a memorial to his wife, Florence. The current award to the winner is $2,500.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Florence Reinauer Memorial Fund to ensure that young musicians will have the support they need to continue their musical studies. Donations are often made in the memory of a deceased loved one, to celebrate a joyous occasion, or even to honor a special event. To contribute to this award, please go to Donate.
The Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award in the amount of $1,200 was instituted during the 90th Anniversary Season (2017-2018) in honor of Marjorie Vandervoort’s 25 years of service as our Music Director. This award is intended solely for excellence in vocal performance.
In naming the award, we thought to honor our beloved director of 29 years, Marjorie Vandervoort. We hope that the Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award inspires young singers to pursue their passion for performing for many years to come.
To contribute to this award, please go to Donate. Acknowledgments of donations to either Award will be sent, and both the donor and honoree will be listed in the latest spring concert program. The Ridgewood Choral thanks you in advance for your support of our Awards, and the young and talented musicians they support.
The 2023 Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award ($2,500) & The Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award ($1,200) Winners have been announced. Please check back in February 2024 for the next application period.
CURRENT MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
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 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.
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.
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.
2023 Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award – Lucas Wang, bassoonist of Ridgewood, NJ has been awarded the 2023 Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award.
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.
2023 Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award – Tyler Kriney, Vocalist is this year’s winner of the Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award.
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.
PAST MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
Search the Internet to find videos, recordings and information about these talented musicians.
2022 Calvin Harper (trombone) Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award.
2022 Margot Jerkovich (vocalist), Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award Winner.
2021 Aleksi Zaretsky (violin), Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award.
2021 Emanuel Singletary (vocalist), Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award Winner.
2020 Bruce Xu (organist), Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award Winner.
2020 Caitlin O’Brien (vocalist), Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award Winner.
2019 Laura Cardona (vocalist, soprano), Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award Winner
2019 Joseph Bucci (tenor), Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award Winner
2018 Isaac Ketter (alto saxaphonist), Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award Winner
2018 Tiffani Amber Rivera, Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award Winner
2017 Andrew Hughes (violist).
2016 Marina Sakellakis (saxophonist)
2015 Davis C. Badaszewski (organist)
2014 1st Place Winner Tiffany Sun (flutist)
2014 2nd Place Winner Mark Serkin (cellist)
2013 Samantha Park (Soprano)
2012 Dana Ramirez (violin)
2011 Ruriko Terada (harp)
2010 Beata Safari (pianist)
2009 Renata Kapilevich (vocalist)
2008 $1000 Winner Emma Schmiedecke (cellist)
2008 $500 Winner Jessica Eucker (vocalist)
2007 Kristen McGuire (flutist)
2006 Robert Farruggia (vocalist)
2005 Andrea Mumm (harpist)
2004 Carl Patrick Bolleia (pianist)
2003 Patrick Laird (cellist)
2002 Peter Folliard (euphonium)
2001 Daniel Munm (cellist)
2000 Richard J. Hicks, III (cellist)
1999 Elizabeth Lowry (vocalist)
1998 Samantha Friedrich (vocalist)
1997 Maria Clara Mallonga (pianist)
1996 John Williams (tuba player)
1995 Sarah Anne Lewis (vocalist)
1994 Jennifer Cho (vocalist)
1993 Viera Effler (pianist)
1992 Stephanie Ferrari (vocalist)
1991 Minako Imada (pianist)
1990 Elizabeth Cassidy (vocalist)
1989 Lisa Yaeger (vocalist)
1988 Yasuko Masaki (pianist)
1987 Margaret Topken (clarinetist)
1986 Marissa Regni (violinist)
1985 Miyako Sakai (pianist)
1984 Wendy Margo (pianist)
1983 Jody Lichtig (vocalist)
1982 Micahel Joseph Maraz (vocalist)
1981 Sarah Janick (pianist)
1980 Claire Benacerraf (vocalist)
1979 Margaret Bethke
1978 Susan Willen
1977 Elizabeth Foerster
1976 Ruthanne Wiley
1975 Jeffrey Good
1974 Dennis O’Shea
1973 David Boeddinhause
1972 Nicholas Schidlovsky
1971 Donald L. Appert
1970 James Rile
1969 Joy E. Buhler
1968 Janice Weber
1967- Denise Brownback