Sunday, December 10, 2023
As a courtesy to the artists and for the uninterrupted enjoyment of your fellow patrons, please turn off all electronic devices. No portion of this performance may be photographed, recorded, filmed, taped, broadcast or mechanically reproduced without the written consent of the Artist and/or the Presenter. Mayo Performing Arts Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Program subject to change.
Girl Named Tom
Three siblings unlock one harmony to unite the world as Girl Named Tom. The trio— Bekah, Joshua, and Caleb Liechty—notably made history as “the only group to ever win NBC’s The Voice.” Along the way, they’ve impressively generated over 25 million of streams across chart-rattling covers such as “River,” “The Chain,” and “Dust in the Wind.” The proud Midwesterners gained further traction with the independent release of Another World EP. Inking a deal with Republic Records, they served up their debut holiday EP, One More Christmas, which reached #1 on the iTunes Charts, and embarked on a massive arena tour supporting Pentatonix for “A Christmas Spectacular.” Since 2022 the group has been living life on the road performing over 150 shows to date. The sibling trio has captivated millions on television, appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, singing for the Indy500, and returning for a heart wrenching performance on The Voice Finale a year after their win. Their inimitable harmony will only continue to resound louder with new music on the way soon. A Brief History
2019 - During their first year as a band, Girl Named Tom drove their old minivan cross country, playing 67 shows in 27 cities. Before the pandemic ground them to a halt, they played The Green Parrot (Key West, FL), Tellus360 (Lancaster, PA), The Laughing Goat (Boulder, CO), Ocean Beach Market (San Diego, CA), churches & dozens of house shows. 2020 - Girl Named Tom made YouTube videos, wrote songs, & recorded a cover album called Hits From The Road. They also created the virtual live show, GNTonight where Caleb, Josh and Bekah brought live music directly to your living room every week. This ran for 8 episodes, and the recordings are on YouTube. 2021 - Girl Named Tom made history as the first trio to ever win The Voice. During Season 21, they landed four songs concurrently on the iTunes Top 10 charts, with two songs reaching #1. The siblings gained newfound love from fans around the world while performing on live TV. 2022 - Girl Named Tom went on a national tour, playing 95 shows total. From the Troubadour in LA, the Gramercy in NYC, to small towns throughout the Midwest, fans have been blown away by the trio's artistry. Known for their breathtaking covers, Caleb, Joshua and Bekah were always writing new songs to add to the show. 2022 ended with a bang! The trio released their first album of its kind, One More Christmas and opened for Pentatonix on their 22-date arena tour, "Holidays Around The World." 2023 - Girl Named Tom hits the road for another national tour playing never-heardbefore original music and all your favorite covers. In August, GNT released their first single, "What a View" with Republic Records. More songs are on their way... Let the music play!
December 10, 2023
DECEMBER
Outstanding Vocalists Tiffany Albornoz Grade 12, Morris Hills High School; Rockaway; Nominated by Michelle Uhler Tiffany Albornoz joined the choir department her sophomore year after I worked with her freshman year in the spring musical at Morris Hills. She is part of the GT (gifted and talented) program at Morris Hills and pursuing a GT in theater arts. She studies acting, how to pursue it, and studying different shows, approaches to acting, etc. She has been doing theater practically her entire life and after discovering her love for musical theatre, joined the choir program last year. She is in my advanced concert choir and is a member of all three of my after school choirs that meet for three hours on Monday nights. Julia Cama Grade 12, Morristown High School; Morristown; Nominated by Christine Scott Julia is one of the most intuitive singers I have ever had the privilege of working with. When learning a piece, she researches and prepares like a pro - she listens to recordings and carefully works to duplicate the nuance of whatever technique/style is required for the piece. She learns quickly and takes constructive criticism gracefully. She was an audience favorite in our 2021 production of Something Rotten (Nostradamus), and last yearʼs production of Cinderella (Fairy Godmother), and has given award-winning performances as a vocal soloist with our jazz band, Spectrum. She is a treasured member of our MHS Treble Chorale and is currently auditioning for colleges to continue her music studies at a higher level. Priya Chopra Grade 7, Mountainview Middle School; Mendham; Nominated by Justin Lordi Priya is an extremely hard-working and attentive musician. She has a strong voice and is never afraid to sing out, even when she might be the only Soprano 1 present in choir for the day. Outside of being in Mountain View Singers, the top choir of the school, Priya plays one of the Les Filles girls in this yearʼs production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. In rehearsals, she is the role model of voice projection that other students always attempt to match. On top of all this, she never has a frown on her face and displays a positive attitude wherever she goes. Aidan Danner Grade 8, Randolph Midddle School; Randolph; Nominated by Ann Kelly Aidan Danner is an active participant and role model in the school choir, as well as the school band, select choir, and jazz band. He was a baritone Morris Area Honor Choir in 6th and 7th grade. He sang as a tenor in the regional choir in 7th grade as well, and has recently been accepted into the All Eastern Choir, a big achievement in the music community. Outside of school, Aidan is an athlete who loves to do all sorts of sports including soccer, basketball, track, and more. He enjoys playing piano and traveling, and he truly finds happiness in the national parks. This love of the outdoors likely sprouts from his participation in Boy Scouts. Amber Deegan Grade 12, West Morris Mendham High School; Mendham; Nominated by Patricia Danner Amber Deegan has been a member of the Mendham HS Choir for the past three years. During The 2023-2024 Music Student of the Month program is supported by The Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc.
Outstanding Vocalists that time, she has participated in every ensemble available to her, and her impact on the program has been vast. Amber can sing almost any part, and in addition to our school program, she has been very successful with honor choirs. She recently performed with the NJ All-State Mixed Choir. Most importantly, Amber is a positive role model for her peers in the choir. She can often be found helping younger students learn their parts, and her kind and welcoming personality makes other students feel comfortable in the group. Amber is an enthusiastic, talented, and dedicated music student, and truly deserves the honor of Music Student of the Month! Navya Ekkaladevi Grade 7, Central Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Adam Aguanno Since entering Central Middle School as a 6th grader, Navyaʼs light has shown bright as a talented singer. She was featured as Young Nala in Central Middle Schoolʼs production of The Lion King. She auditioned for the North Jersey Intermediate chorus as a young 6th grader and made it, and went on to perform in their 2023 performance. She plans to audition again in 2024. Her desire to continue to become a stronger and better singer is evident on a daily basis as she is a hard worker. This along with her kindness, passion, and dedication make her a deserving candidate for outstanding vocalist of the month. Marisa Foster Grade 8, Mount Olive Middle School; Budd Lake; Nominated by Joanna Scarangello Marisa is an exceptional singer and has really emerged as a leader in our curricular and cocurricular ensembles. Marisa was recently accepted into the ACDA All-Eastern Junior High Honor Choir and has been a member of New Jersey Youth Choirʼs Sola Voce. Marisa continues to challenge herself to grow as a musician through her many talents. Sarah Hayes Grade 8, Black River Middle School; Chester; Nominated by Kathleen Vespignani Sarah has been a member of the chorus at Black River for three years, as well as a member of the Select Chorus since the 6th grade. She is often a soloist in the choral groups. After three years in both vocal ensembles, Sarah has blossomed into a magnificent musician and performer. Sarah comes to rehearsal and performances with the utmost professionalism, enthusiasm, and respect for the art. In class, Sarah is constantly singing while doing her work, making everyone around her smile! Sarah continues her musical endeavors outside of school as well, singing in her church choir. She also participated in the Drama Club performance last year at the middle school. Sarah truly exemplifies what a great musician is! Her style is versatile and she learns quickly; she has a great vocal range and a warm quality to her voice. She exhibits a rare potential to become a professional singer/performer. She is an amazing young woman and musician. Christopher LaRosa Grade 12, Hanover Park High School; East Hanover; Nominated by Helen Britez Christopher has been a dependable member of the Choirs for four years. He currently serves as Bass Section Leader and takes a specialized course with me called Applied Vocal Music at Hanover Park HS. He loves all types of music, but can (and loves to) sing pop, jazz, Billy Joel, The Eagles, and more. He has recently discovered remarkable vocal and stylistic strength with jazz standards and Crooner songs. It has been a pleasure watching him grow into such a strong musician and revered member of our program. Adaline Spencer Grade 8, Harding Township School; Harding; Nominated by Rachel Gareau I have had the pleasure of teaching Addie music since 1st grade. She has had a leading role in every school musical since 4th grade. She has also had leading roles in community theater productions. She has had singing solos in concerts as well. She participates in her church music program, and attended Frenchwoods camp for theater. Addie studies voice privately and takes it very seriously. She has a beautiful voice and would be honored to be acknowledged.