The Justin Veatch Fund is awarding three high school seniors a $1,000 scholarship each. Recipients are two Yorktown High School students and one Walter Panas High School student.
Yorktown's Mark McIntyre and John Venezia will be joined by Walter Panas' Virginia Croft at a special program at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak on Wednesday, June 19. They will receive a special plaque attached to a metronome as well as a $1,000 check.
The Fund will also present a special community service award to Helena Rodriguez, who is retiring as president of the Yorktown Teen Center.
McIntyre and Venezia were recognized Monday night at Yorktown High School’s Senior Awards Night. Their awards are dedicated to the memory of Graham “Gray” Keenan III, a Yorktown High School graduate and good friend of Justin Veatch, who died last summer in an automobile accident at the age of 21.
McIntyre will attend NYU’s Steinhardt School in the fall, pursuing jazz guitar performance and composition. Rarely seen without his instrument, he is known by most for his longtime devotion to music and commitment to learning. Described as genuine, passionate, and charismatic by those who have watched him develop over the years, McIntyre has a presence on-stage and off that is difficult not to admire. Teachers and peers have commended him for his technique, enthusiasm, work ethic, and willingness to help others.
As a founding member of the "Swing Four" jazz combo, current trumpet section leader for the YHS Wind Ensemble, and longtime YHS jazz band member, his musical versatility has proved to be invaluable to our community. He has been a regular participant in Justin Veatch Fund programs over the past four years and helped produce The Fund’s October 2012 concert with Bernie Williams and his famous All Star Band, arranging 11 songs in just one week.
As a founding member of the "Swing Four" jazz combo, current trumpet section leader for the YHS Wind Ensemble, and longtime YHS jazz band member, his musical versatility has proved to be invaluable to our community. He has been a regular participant in Justin Veatch Fund programs over the past four years and helped produce The Fund’s October 2012 concert with Bernie Williams and his famous All Star Band, arranging 11 songs in just one week.
“It is an incredible honor to get this award” McIntyre said. "I feel an enormous gratitude toward The Justin Veatch Fund, not just from this award, but also for all they have done for me in the past. I hope I can return the favor by spreading their message however I can.”
Venezia will take the next step in his musical future by attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in the fall, focusing on instrumental performance. In a letter recommending Venezia for the award Yorktown music teacher Jeff Whalen called him the "finest drummer and all-around percussionist that has ever come through Yorktown schools."
Venezia is a member of the Westchester All-County Jazz Band, the Westchester Jazz Elite, the YHS Wind Ensemble, and the YHS choir. He is also a founding member of the "Swing Four" jazz sextet, which has gained a county wide reputation for excellence. Venezia has played a variety of roles in Justin Veatch Fund programs including performing in last fall’s Bernie Williams concert and said he hopes to become a studio and touring musician performing in all genres, as well as a musical director and producer.
Croft, whose primary instrument of 13 years is the violin, will be attending SUNY Fredonia in the fall to study Music Therapy. As concertmaster of the Westchester Putnam Youth Symphony since 2009, Croft has had the opportunity to cultivate her skills, spread her love of music abroad on a summer European tour, and recently collaborate with The Daisy Jopling Band for a performance at the reopened Paramount Hudson Valley.
She has participated in the pit orchestra for Lakeland and Panas musicals all throughout high school and is a member of the highly esteemed Intermediate All-County and Area All-State orchestras. She was also honored by the Panas Music Department as its recipient of the National School Orchestra award. Croft called the Justin Veatch Fund scholarship award a true honor.
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“I can’t wait to put the scholarship towards my degree in music therapy, so I can help other people overcome obstacles via music.”
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