2022 Scholarship Recipient
Jacob (Coby) Gumulak has been chosen by the Warren County Community Singers as the recipient of the 2022 George K. Warne Scholarship. He resides in Phillipsburg, NJ and is a senior at Phillipsburg High School. Music has had a huge impact on Coby since he was a youngster. He began with theater and choir in third grade, then started playing the alto sax and joined the Fifth-grade Concert Band and has been playing ever since then. In eighth grade, he decided to enroll in his upcoming high school marching band and pit orchestra. Pursuit of his passion for music, particularly jazz, led to his decision to make music his career, ultimately deciding to become a music educator.
Coby participated in the Phillipsburg HS Marching Band, Pit Orchestra, Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble throughout his high school career. Outside of school, he donated his time to the Charles Seller Foundation, a non-profit organization benefiting a young person who needs help with medical expenses, as a member of their Pit Orchestra. In addition, Coby belongs to a Jazz Combo that prepares and plays music at private parties and dinners. He has performed with his alto sax and given his time at numerous sporting and military events in Phillipsburg and beyond.
Coby is a well-rounded student who excels not only musically but academically and personally. He exhibits humility by ensuring the music program comes first and puts others ahead of himself. His band director noted that he has a drive for perfection and mastery with an innate musical ability and work ethic that will serve him well in life.
Coby’s audition pieces highlighted his confident stage presence, excellent interpretation, and diversity of genres. His jazz piece was exceptional. He played “Etude #20: 24 Etudes for Oboe and Saxophone” by Johann Heinrich Luft and “On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Dorothy Fields.
Moravian University is fortunate to have Coby Gumulak as one of its incoming freshmen. We wish him well in his studies and know his future students will be in wonderful hands!
2021 Scholarship Recipient
Imani Smith has been chosen by the Warren County Community Singers as the recipient of the 2021 George K. Warne Scholarship. She resides in Phillipsburg, NJ and is a senior at Phillipsburg High School. Imani has aspired to perform on Broadway since she was four years old. Influenced by her involvement with ShowKids Invitational Theatre (SKIT) as well as her other music-related and non-music activities, she now dreams of leading her own Creative Restorative Theatre where actors receive healing and guidance and their audiences are transformed through the restorative power of music and creativity.
Imani has been very involved with musical activities since she was young. She has been a music student for 11 years. She participated in the Phillipsburg HS Women’s Choir and the PHS Stateliner Singers. Outside of school Imani has been active with ShowKids Invitational Theatre, the Phillipsburg Area Summer Youth Theatre, and receives voice training. She had the distinction of being named the 2019 Outstanding Youth Actress in a Musical by the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT).
Imani is a well-rounded student who excels not only musically but academically and personally. She maintains an excellent GPA, was inducted into the National Honor Society in 2019, is a class officer, and is the current president of the PHS Drama Club. She is a 13 year member of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, is active at her church, and has worked at several jobs in the community.
Imani’s audition pieces highlighted her lovely voice, wonderful stage presence, excellent interpretation, and confidence. She sang “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and “My Favorite Things” by Richard Rodgers.
Western Connecticut State University is fortunate to count Imani Smith, majoring in Musical Theatre, as one of its incoming freshmen. We are sure she is destined for wonderful things in the future!
2020 Scholarship Recipient
Warren County Community Singers is proud to announce that Emma Kaiven has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 George K. Warne Memorial Scholarship. Emma is a senior at Warren Hills Regional High School and resides in Washington, NJ. As a shy child, Emma discovered that music became a vehicle for self-expression. Musical theater performances intensely captured her interest which led to a passionate pursuit of the art of singing.
She has been actively studying music for the past nine years. Her music training has included both private voice and piano instruction.
Emma has been very active in her school music program as a member of the Advanced Concert Choir, Select Choir, and Rock & Pop Choir. She has also participated in four high school musicals, as well as community and pre-professional theater. A notable achievement was a 2nd place award given in both the musical theater and song and aria division by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). In addition to her high level of
accomplishment in music, Emma is an outstanding academic student with a GPA of 3.9. She is well-rounded having been involved in extra-curricular activities such as Best Buddies and Key Club.
Emma’s audition pieces were impressive as she sang skillful interpretations of both German lieder (“Die Forelle” by Franz Schubert) and musical theater (“Fly Into the Future” from Vanities by David Kirshenbaum).
Emma has enrolled at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. as a musical theatre major. She aspires to a career which includes singing in New York City someday! We wish her the very best in all her endeavors.
2019 Scholarship Recipients
LIANNA JOHNSON
Lianna is a senior at Warren Hills Regional High School and resides in Port Murray. She is a gifted singer who wishes to do something profound with her gift! Lianna has had music training for the past seven years and has been very active in her school music program as a member of the Select Choir, Advanced Concert Choir and the Rock and Pop Choir. She participated in Cabaret Night, and has had parts in her high school’s musicals, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and The Addams Family.
In addition to her school music activities, Lianna has been selected for the NJMEA All-State Treble Chorus and been involved with the Pre-College Musical Theater Intensive at Rider University, the Riverside Festival for the Arts in Easton as a soloist, Warren Idol, and “The Spotlight is on You” Acting Camp. She played Mrs. Darling/Brave Girl in Peter Pan at Country Gate Playhouse. Lianna has received recognition for being the Best Solo at the Roxbury Invitational and for Best Effort in Advanced Concert Choir.
In addition to her high level of achievement in music, Lianna is outstanding academically, attaining membership in the National Honor Society and ranking in the top 5% of her class. She is a well-rounded individual participating in high school activities such as Drama Club, Peer Leadership, and playing basketball for four years as well as being involved with pursuits outside of school.
She is inspired to develop and use her gift of singing to fill the smallest chapel to, perhaps, the Metropolitan Opera House one day. Lianna will attend Rowan University where she will pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Performance.
JASON THOMPSON
Jason is a senior at Belvidere High School who resides in Belvidere. Jason comes from a musical family and has been exposed to music his whole life so it’s no surprise he has immersed himself in it! He began to sing and play instruments from the age of seven and by age nine was part of a choir, band and drama club. He has had music training for the past ten years and has been very active in the following school music activities: Chamber Choir, Men’s Choir, Concert Choir, Octet, Concert Band, Jazz Band and was Student Director of the Choral Leadership Board.
Outside of school, Jason has participated musically in Country Gate Players, Phillipsburg Area Summer Youth Theater, and played with the rock band Vintage Feedback. Notably, Jason is President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, was selected for the NJ Region Mixed Chorus for 2019 and the Morris Area Honor Choir, 2018-19.
Not only is Jason musically talented, he is also an excellent student. He maintains a 96+ grade average and became a member of the National Honor Society two years ago. In addition to his music, Jason has participated in Belvidere HS Drama Club, serving as President for 2018-19 and was the BHS Drama Club Music Director for 2019.
Jason dreams of becoming a high school choral music director and a musical theater director serving students as well as the community. He looks forward to, in his words, “teaching and inspiring others to love and appreciate music as much as I do!” He has been accepted into the Musical Theater program at the County College of Morris where he plans to get his Associates Degree in Musical Theater and then, transfer to a four year college to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.
2018 Scholarship Recipient
Gabrielle Pedraza of Belvidere was our 2018 scholarship recipient. She is currently enrolled in the College of Creative Arts of West Virginia University as a Theatre major.
She was very active throughout her time at Belvidere High School as a member of the Concert and Scarlet Choirs as well as the Chamber Singers. She was a featured soloist in choral concerts as well as numerous community events, including Belvidere Tree Lighting and Warren County Patriot Day, Veterans Day and War Veterans Recognition ceremonies. Gabby participated all 4 years in her high school spring musical, in which she had principal roles each year. In 2016 and 2017 she received Freddy Award nominations for Outstanding Small Ensemble in Little Shop of Horrors and Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress in Seussical the Musical.
Gabby had active roles in her school Drama, Environmental and S.A.D.D. Clubs as well as Student Government and mentoring programs. In preparing for a future in music, she continues to study both voice and dance.
Gabby has nurtured her love of singing and music since early childhood which has grown into a passion which she will pursue as a career. She has enrolled in the Gabby has expressed her "gratitude to music...for taking me on an incredible journey..."
