Our 2013 Scholarship Winners . . .

Christopher Chen	MinJee Kim
Christopher Chen, a Senior of Summit High School, has been playing violin and piano for 13 years. Starting on what he thought was a miniature guitar, Christopher took on piano soon after pursuing his violin studies. Feeling that the instruments complement each other in eclectic ways, he enjoys combining the instruments to give them his own individual flair as a dual musician. He feels that each instrument has its own types of practicality, and branching from such practicalities include different functions. On the violin, which flourishes in chamber music and group ensembles, Christopher has not only performed an Octet with members of the NJSO, but has also been a part of the NJ Region II orchestra, All-State Orchestra, and All-Eastern Honors Orchestra. In his school, he leads his orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and the Hilltop String Quartet in competitive events, charity concerts, and pleasant performances. On the piano, with its extensive tonal range, Christopher has competed and performed mostly as a soloist. As a winner of numerous competitions, including the Young Pianists, PTSA Ruth Slenczynska, Cecilian Music Club, NJ Federation, MacDowell Music Club, MEA Concerto, NJMTA, and Goldblatt Scholarship competitions, Christopher knows the exhilaration of competing. The dominating bass of the piano gives him a different form of control over his audience as compared to the violin, and he understands the unique excitement reserved for the piano. When not playing competitively, he enjoys improvising by ear and spontaneous composition. Aside from musical endeavors, Christopher enjoys cross country, swimming, and volleyball on his high school teams, for he feels a strong connection between music and athletics. As Junior and Senior Class Treasurer, Christopher also enjoys helping manage school functions and proposals. Recently, he won 1st prize in the Behavioral Science category of the North Jersey Regional Science Fair for his project that combined elements of music (rhythmic accuracy), physics, and statistics. He puts music to good use by giving free lessons, for he feels one of the best ways to learn is through teaching, and encourages others to do so as Vice President of the Summit Key Club, a volunteer organization.	Chatham High School senior MinJee Kim, soprano, has studied voice privately for several years, most recently with Lorraine Nubar. A passionate and versatile vocalist who is at home on the stage, MinJee is equally at ease with Baroque, Classical, Opera, Romantic, and Contemporary works. MinJee also enjoys studying and performing popular and folk music. A veteran member of the 24-voice Chatham High School Select Choir, MinJee has performed as an ensemble singer and featured soloist in significant venues such as NJPAC, Lincoln Center and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, in addition to adjudicated opportunities throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. MinJee earned honors status as a member of the CHS Select Choir for her junior and senior years, and participates in the Pre-College Program offered for exceptional high school musicians through The Juilliard School of Music, where she has extensively studied voice, music theory, and performance. She has also enjoyed membership in the Morris County Honor Choir, New Jersey Region I Mixed Chorus, NJ All-State Chorus, the 2012 NAfME All-National Chorus, and the 2012 Carnegie Hall Honor Choir. In 2012, MinJee was honored to perform in Nice, France as part of Les Concerts des Éstudiants de l’Academie Internationale d’Eté de Nice. In addition, MinJee has performed several operatic roles through the Juilliard School and abroad. Recent favorites include Susanna (Mozart; Le Nozze de Figaro), Poppea (Monteverdi; L’incoronazione di Poppea), and Gretel (Humperdinck; Hänsel und Gretel). With Select Choir at Chatham HS, MinJee performed as featured soloist at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall for Mozart’s Laudate Dominum (from Vesperae solennes de confessore) and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu (from Requiem), and recently Handel’s Art Thou Troubled (from Rodelinda) in a school performance. MinJee has also placed in several vocal competitions locally, regionally, nationally, and abroad. In her hometown MinJee serves her community as an on-demand National Anthem soloist, volunteer performer in local eldercare facilities, and soup kitchen volunteer. Aside from her musical endeavors, MinJee is an avid golfer, academic tutor, student assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of Chatham, and an active member of the CHS Key and Performing Arts Clubs. MinJee is honored to be selected as a recipient for the 2013 John A. Plumer Memorial Scholarship Award. In the Fall, she plans to attend Dartmouth College, declaring a double major in her two greatest passions - singing and mathematics.

PAST RECIPIENTS

CHARLES HOENS, South Orange December 1971
PATRICIA A. DOBBS, Madison April 1972
NANCY SCHWARTZ, South Orange April 1973
LISA FLORIO, Short Hills December 1973
JULIE KEDERSHA, South Orange April 1974
ELIZABETH NESTER, Madison December 1974
DONNA ROBBINS South Orange April 1975
MARGO HENNEBACH, Short Hills December 1976
KYLE GRANGER, South Orange April 1976
KRISTI FRANK, Short Hills December 1976
LAURA ANN LlLOIA, Nutley April1977
LORI MILLER, Millburn December 1977
HANS FENSTERMACHER, South Orange
JANET HIRSHMAN, Maplewood, April 1978
MELINDA GETZ, Millburn December 1978
MARGERY HANSEN, West Orange April 1979
SHARON ELIZABETH BAUBLES, Maplewood April 1980
ROBIN LORI COHEN, Short Hills December 1980
PAMELA DeLUCA, Millburn : April 1981
SUSAN TULINSKI, Short Hills April 1982
DONNA TERRY, Newark
PAMELA WINSLOW, Maplewood, May 1983
KENNETH RICHMAN, Maplewood April 1984
LORRAINE THOMAS Maplewood May 1985
LOREN WALENSKY, Millburn May 1986
MATTHEW RINGEL, Millburn May 1987
AVI POLAK, Millburn April 1988
HEATHER MOUNT, Millburn April 1989
PETER STEWART, South Orange May 1990
KRISTEN CASTALDO, Florham Park May 1991
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, Warren Twp May 1992
MAKIKO HIRATA, Short Hills May 1993
CAROLYN SHIH, Short Hills May 1994
SONIA LYNN BJORNSEN, East Hanover May 1996
MARY KATE WILLKENS, Summit
KARINA BRUK, South Orange May 1996
EYTAN USLAN, South Orange May 1997
MICHAEL VOGEL, Berkeley Heights May 1998
JESSICA MOFFETT, West Orange May 1999
VERONICA LEE PASTERCZYK, Mountainside May 2000
ALLISON CHEUNG, Millburn and
ASHER STEIN, Maplewood May 2001
ASHLEY HARTMAN, Chatham May 2002
LEAR JANIV, Millburn May May2003
YEMIN SHI, Millburn May 2004
FREDDI MACK, Berkeley Heights May 2005
MARISSA RAGO, Union May 2006
HYEREE GRACE KIM, Millburn May 2007
ELICIA SILVERSTEIN, Millburn May 2008
LARISSA D’ANDREA, Montclair May 2009
AMANDA GRAFTON, Maplewood May 2010
TIMOTHY LACIANO, New Providence May 2011
SEAN HACK, Columbia High May 2012
SEAN SWITZER, Chatham May 2012

THE JOHN A. PLUMER
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

The Music Scholarship Award was initiated in 1971 by John Plumer during his year as President. In his honor the Maplewood Glee Club established the John A. Plumer Memorial Scholarship Fund as a not-for-profit organization supporting young music students. A scholarship is awarded each year to a graduating senior high school student planning to pursue a career in music. Selection of the recipient is administered by our Scholarship Committee. Candidates are drawn from the towns where members of the glee club reside. Relatives of glee club members are ineligible.

Continuance of the award has been made possible by the support of the Glee Club’s members and friends. Tax deductible donations to the John A Plumer Memorial Scholarship Fund may be sent to:

Maplewood Glee Club
P.O. Box 54
Maplewood, NJ 07040