Welcome to the
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT
Mr. Michael Schwartz, Department Head, Instrumental Music (Bands and Orchestras)
Mr. Mark Boschen, Instrumental Music (Wind Ensemble)
Ms. Ilana Meredith Schikler, Drama, Theatre South Adviser
Dr. Janine Robinson, Vocal Music, Theory, Piano
Mr. Anthony Virgilio, Guitar and Music Technology
* 2024 Long Island Regional Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society "Young Musicians Concert" (two ensembles)
* 2024 NYC Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society Alice Tully Hall "Young Musicians Concert"
* 2024 NAMM "Best Community For Music Education" in America
Lincoln Center Young Musicians Innovation Challenge (Winner & Honorable Mention)
Long Island Music Hall of Fame High School Music Program of Excellence
Long Island Music Hall of Fame Holiday Benefit Concert
* Three Time "Grammy Signature School"
* Twenty-four years selected as a Lincoln Center Chamber Music winner
* Forty-three Great Neck South High chamber music ensembles selected to perform in the Lincoln Center "Young Musicians Concert".
* Nineteen years selected as a NAMM "Best Community for Music Education" in America
* Fifty-four years presenting annual opera productions fully staged with orchestra, costumes, professional opera drops,
sung in the original language, and presented with English supertitles. (See our opera section for more details)
We hope that you will have an opportunity to browse through our various pages to learn more about our music classes, ensembles, performances and student accomplishments. Please scroll down below and click into the links above to view more about Great Neck South High Music.
Upcoming Events
We look forward to welcoming all of our students returning to school on Wednesday, September 4th.
We have an exciting year ahead presenting in person concerts and public performances.
Please join us for the following events:
May 9-11 One Act Play Festival @ 7:00pm (AUD)
May 10-11 All-State & All-State Jazz NYSSMA @ Freeport
May 17 Improv Night #2 @ 7:00pm (GP)
May 20-23 NYSSMA Majors @ Hofstra
May 23 Theatre Production Lakeville Performance @10:00AM (GP)
May 23 Spring Concert I @ 7:00pm (AUD)
May 24 8th Grade Orientation Walkthrough (AUD)
May 27 Great Neck Memorial Day Parade @ 9:30am
May 28 Senior Instrumental Concerto Night @ 7:00pm (309)
May 29 Senior Awards @ 7:00pm (AUD)
May 30 Spring Concert II @ 7:00pm (AUD)
June 4 Pops Concert @ 7:00pm (AUD)
June 24 Graduation Rehearsal @ Tilles 8:00am
June 25 Graduation @ Tilles 2:30pm
June 26 Last Day of School
We look forward to welcoming all of our students returning to school on Wednesday, September 4th.
We have an exciting year ahead presenting in person concerts and public performances.
Please join us for the following events:
May 9-11 One Act Play Festival @ 7:00pm (AUD)
May 10-11 All-State & All-State Jazz NYSSMA @ Freeport
May 17 Improv Night #2 @ 7:00pm (GP)
May 20-23 NYSSMA Majors @ Hofstra
May 23 Theatre Production Lakeville Performance @10:00AM (GP)
May 23 Spring Concert I @ 7:00pm (AUD)
May 24 8th Grade Orientation Walkthrough (AUD)
May 27 Great Neck Memorial Day Parade @ 9:30am
May 28 Senior Instrumental Concerto Night @ 7:00pm (309)
May 29 Senior Awards @ 7:00pm (AUD)
May 30 Spring Concert II @ 7:00pm (AUD)
June 4 Pops Concert @ 7:00pm (AUD)
June 24 Graduation Rehearsal @ Tilles 8:00am
June 25 Graduation @ Tilles 2:30pm
June 26 Last Day of School
WILLIAM A. SHINE GREAT NECK SOUTH HIGH
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Presents
2024 OPERA - 54th Season!
La Boheme
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Opera in Four Acts in Italian with English supertitles
Fully staged with full orchestra, costumes and opera scenic drops
Performed entirely by students from Great Neck South HS
April 12th & 13th, 2024 @ 7:00pm
PIANO RECITAL
October 12, 2023
South High All-State Musicians
2023-2024
2023 Spring Opera production of
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
March 31 and April 1st, 2023
COSI FAN TUTTE
Great Neck South High Opera 2022
April 8th & 9th 2022
COSI FAN TUTTE
OPERA CAST AND ORCHESTRA
2021 Winter Concert I - Photos (Courtesy of Young Soo Choi & Family)
2021 Winter Concert II - Photos (Courtesy of Young Soo Choi & Family)
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Young Musicians Innovation Challenge 2022 Final Round
Great Neck South High had two of the five teams selected for participation in the final round of the Young Musicians Innovation Challenge 2022. Only two winners and two honorable mentions were ultimately selected in 2022. Congratulations goes to Jillian Chang and Joy Yang of our Musiclusive team on their selection as a winner of the challenge by the Final Round panel of Judges. As an awardee, the school will receive funds in the amount they indicated in their revised proposal (not to exceed $1000) and four additional coaching sessions. We also congratulation Brayden Chien, Drew Kim and Sebastian Lennox of our ChamberDischord team for receiving Honorable Mention. As an Honorable Mention recipient, CMS will offer four additional coaching sessions to assist the team with continued development of your proposal.
South High Musician Selected for Master Class
South High senior Sophia Wotman is one of three high school students
selected to participate in a Brass Masterclass led by acclaimed jazz musician Wynton
Marsalis at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.
Sophia was selected for this advanced masterclass based on her skills as a trumpeter and
recommendations from her music teachers at South High.
Sophia is a talented musician who was recently selected for the All-State Jazz
Ensemble. She plays the trumpet in the South High Wind Ensemble, under the direction
of Mark Boschen, as well as the Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band, under the direction
of Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head/instrumental music teacher.
South High senior Sophia Wotman is one of three high school students
selected to participate in a Brass Masterclass led by acclaimed jazz musician Wynton
Marsalis at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.
Sophia was selected for this advanced masterclass based on her skills as a trumpeter and
recommendations from her music teachers at South High.
Sophia is a talented musician who was recently selected for the All-State Jazz
Ensemble. She plays the trumpet in the South High Wind Ensemble, under the direction
of Mark Boschen, as well as the Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band, under the direction
of Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head/instrumental music teacher.
2022 NAfME All-National Selection
William A. Shine – Great Neck South High School
South High students Mengu Amy Wu (bassoon) and Dayoung Yu (violin) will
both perform in the All-National Symphony Orchestra. Their music teachers at South
High are Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head/instrumental music teacher,
and Mark Boschen, instrumental music teacher.
Honor Ensembles participants are selected though a rigorous process that includes
a recorded video audition. Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor
ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor
ensembles.
NAfME is planning a virtual event for the 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles
program, to take place Jan. 22–24, 2022. The 2021 virtual event will include several
rehearsals with conductors, workshops with renowned clinicians, and each ensemble will
create a final, recorded performance to premiere online.
William A. Shine – Great Neck South High School
South High students Mengu Amy Wu (bassoon) and Dayoung Yu (violin) will
both perform in the All-National Symphony Orchestra. Their music teachers at South
High are Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head/instrumental music teacher,
and Mark Boschen, instrumental music teacher.
Honor Ensembles participants are selected though a rigorous process that includes
a recorded video audition. Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor
ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor
ensembles.
NAfME is planning a virtual event for the 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles
program, to take place Jan. 22–24, 2022. The 2021 virtual event will include several
rehearsals with conductors, workshops with renowned clinicians, and each ensemble will
create a final, recorded performance to premiere online.
Great Neck South High 2021-2022 All-State Selection
Name Instrument Grade All-State Ensemble
Joy Song Bb Clarinet 11 Symphonic Band
Katherine Wang Alto Sax 12 Symphonic Band
Amy Mengyu Wu Bassoon 12 Symphonic Band
Sophia Wotman Trumpet 12 Jazz Ensemble
Joy Yang Violin 11 Symphony Orchestra
Dayoung Yu Violin 11 Symphony Orchestra
Karly Chan Soprano 12 Mixed Choir
Jillian Chang Cello 11 Alternate
Drew Kim Violin 11 Alternate
Lauren Kim Soprano 12 Alternate
Johann Lee Violin 12 Alternate
Sebastian Lennox Viola 11 Alternate
Sidney Wong Violin 11 Alternate
2022 NYSBDA High School Honor Concert Band
(New York State Band Directors Association)
William A. Shine - Great Neck South High School
Hugh Choi Flute
Charles Li Trumpet
Kanheng Martin Lin Baritone Saxophone
Ruiqi Liu Flute
Allen Lu Clarinet
Sarah Sun Alto Saxophone
Hannah Fisk Bassoon (Alternate)
(New York State Band Directors Association)
William A. Shine - Great Neck South High School
Hugh Choi Flute
Charles Li Trumpet
Kanheng Martin Lin Baritone Saxophone
Ruiqi Liu Flute
Allen Lu Clarinet
Sarah Sun Alto Saxophone
Hannah Fisk Bassoon (Alternate)
2021 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center - Great Neck South High Innovation Challenge Project
2020 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
"4th Annual Long Island Regional Young Musicians Concert"
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your submission to the YMC Long Island Regional 2020!
We were thrilled to receive nearly double the number of submissions by school to this year’s regional compared to last year. We appreciate your patience with our confirmation process.
On behalf of CMS, I am pleased to let you know the ensembles below have been selected to appear on the YMC LI Regional 2020 taking place at 11am Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020 at Tilles Center, LIU Post.
Ethan Jiang: Piano Trio No. 1 in E Minor
Mia Wang, violin
Shalin Madan, cello
Ethan Jiang, piano
Carl Maria von Weber: Grand Duo Concertant Opus 48 J204 - Movt. 3 Rondo: allegro
Eli Goldberger, Bb clarinet
Benjamin Rossen, piano
Alexander Borodin: Quartet No. 2 in D major for Strings, I. Allegro moderato
Dayoung Yu, violin I
Sidney Wong, violin II
Dana Siong Sin, viola
Jillian Chang, cello
Thank you, again, for your support of the YMC Regionals. We look forward to seeing you and the ensemble at the concert!
Best,
Matt
Matthew Tommasini
Director of Education
70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10023
Thank you for your submission to the YMC Long Island Regional 2020!
We were thrilled to receive nearly double the number of submissions by school to this year’s regional compared to last year. We appreciate your patience with our confirmation process.
On behalf of CMS, I am pleased to let you know the ensembles below have been selected to appear on the YMC LI Regional 2020 taking place at 11am Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020 at Tilles Center, LIU Post.
Ethan Jiang: Piano Trio No. 1 in E Minor
Mia Wang, violin
Shalin Madan, cello
Ethan Jiang, piano
Carl Maria von Weber: Grand Duo Concertant Opus 48 J204 - Movt. 3 Rondo: allegro
Eli Goldberger, Bb clarinet
Benjamin Rossen, piano
Alexander Borodin: Quartet No. 2 in D major for Strings, I. Allegro moderato
Dayoung Yu, violin I
Sidney Wong, violin II
Dana Siong Sin, viola
Jillian Chang, cello
Thank you, again, for your support of the YMC Regionals. We look forward to seeing you and the ensemble at the concert!
Best,
Matt
Matthew Tommasini
Director of Education
70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10023