Tri-M Welcomes Gifted Musicians Who Are Leaders and Scholars

Several of the finest vocalists and instrumental musicians from the Academy of the Holy Angels are now members of Tri-M, the Modern Music Masters Honor Society. In addition to their musical accomplishments, eligible Tri-M members demonstrate scholarship, character, leadership, and service to others.

This fall’s inductees to Chapter 2150 are Caroline Ko of Hoboken; Hyerin “Ella” Eom and Chloe Kim of Palisades Park; Riley Huang of Fort Lee; Mona Lee, Norah Park, and Sungmin Park of Cresskill; Alessandra Boncaldo of Stony Point, New York; Lilianna Garber of Mahwah; Lauren Chung of Closter; Samantha Dipad of New Milford; Emma Bang of Paramus; Alicia Chung of Tenafly; Isabella Butler of Hillsdale; Evangeline Koo of Park Ridge; Isabella Hur and Jiyoon “Christina” Yeo of Closter; Yeon “Elizabeth” Choe of Nutley; Gabrielle and Alexandra Fontana of Nanuet, New York; and Faye Kontzamanis of Englewood Cliffs.

Sponsored by the National Association for Music Educators, Tri-M recognizes young musicians and strives to produce leaders in music education and advocacy. AHA’s Tri-M members promote music at school and in the greater community. AHA’s group has proven to be one of the most active chapters in the area. Students have organized outreach concerts and raised funds for a non-profit that purchases instruments for young musicians who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own.

The ceremony included a mini-concert that showcased the talents of each of the new Tri-M members. Some inductees study at Juilliard and several have been invited to perform at renowned venues that include Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall. Selections ranged from well-loved pieces by Bach, Debussy, Chopin, and Mozart to “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles, “On My Own” by Burt Bacharach, and “You Say” by Lauren Daigle.

Solo vocalists included Caroline Ko, Norah Park, Lilianna Garber, Isabella Butler, and Sungmin Park. Sisters Gabrielle and Alexandra Fontana sang a duet.

Violin solos were presented by Ella Eom, Riley Huang, Lauren Chung, and Jiyoon Yeo. Chloe Kim, Mona Lee, Alessandra Boncaldo, Samantha Dipad, Isabella Hur, and Elizabeth Choe performed piano selections. Emma Bang, Alicia Chung, and Evangeline Koo played flute solos.

“Whether the inductees sing or play the piano, violin, or flute, their performances bring life to Holy Angels,” said AHA Performing Arts Director Daniel Mahoney. “Every Angel musician is sharing her talents and gifts with the school community.”

Mahoney thanked the administration, Choral Director Lisa Marciano, Orchestra Director Andrew Monticello, and the Tri-M officers who organized and led the induction. Those student leaders include Olivia Papp, Ellie Sawyer, Isabella Wisniewski, and Sarahsihu Kim.

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious high school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. Over time, thousands of women have passed through AHA’s portals. Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics. The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.