By Su Ronneburger
This past December, at the Northport Chorale’s annual “Messiah” Sing-In, “Handel-on-the-Harbor,” an extraordinary talent graced the hall at Trinity Church in the person of Ms. Mary-Liz O’Neill, a 14-year-old soprano with credentials that rival many professionals.
Ms. O’Neill has been the youngest regular performer at Northport’s “Opera Night” series; she has been a recipient of the Robert Campbell Scholarship award at New York State’s Summer School of Choral Studies; she will be auditioning for pre-college programs at both Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music; and will be performing at Carnegie Hall as part of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Chorale in June. She has studied privately since the tender age of eight, presently with Hofstra University’s Tammy Hensrud.
In recognition of Ms. O’Neill’s talent and dedication to her craft, the Chorale presented her with the “Young Artist Incentive Award” for 2008 at their Spring Concert on Friday, May 9th. In the photo above, Ms. O’Neill receives the inaugural award from Mrs. Debi Susinno, treasurer of the Northport Chorale.
Su Ronneburger is president of the Northport Chorale