2024 Scholarship Recipient - Tyrik Iman-Washington
Tyrik Iman-Washington has been chosen by Warren County Community Singers as a recipient of a 2024 George K. Warne Scholarship. He resides in Port Murray, NJ and is a senior at Warren Hills Regional High School. He is majoring in Musical Theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and is excited to be studying in New York City for two years followed by two years in Los Angeles. Tyrik was first on a stage at the age of four when he was volunteered by his parents to sing for his church
congregation. After the exhilaration of being on stage in church at this early age, he knew that performing was something he wanted to pursue as a goal. He is determined to use his art as a tool to inspire people, give them hope, and, ultimately, make a difference in the world by leaving a positive impact. His ventures reflect this objective.
Tyrik has been involved with many musical activities in school: Honors Advanced Concert Choir, Select Choir, soloist at pep rallies, Cabaret Night 2021-2024, and the school musicals Chicago, playing Billy Flynn (2021), and Anastasia The Musical, playing Gleb Vaganov (2023) for which he won a 2023 Freddy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role. Freddy Awards recognize and reward exceptional accomplishments in high school musical theater in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania and Warren County, NJ. Outside of school Tyrik is in the Youth and the
Adult Choir at his church in Brooklyn.
Tyrik demonstrates a well-rounded interest in the school community and beyond. He has had training outside of school at NYU Future Theatre Artists, NYU Immersive Stage: Tisch School of the Arts, Diversity Youth Theatre, and New Federal Theatre. He has also done professional work in the realm of music and performing including appearances on PBS Theatre Talk, in the short films Under the Heavens, Gentrified Rick, and Start Now, and at the NYC 2023 PACEsetter Awards to name a few.
Tyrik not only participated in musical undertakings but was involved with other school activities such as the National Honor Society (President, two years), Student Council (VP, three years), Best Buddies, Drama Club, Human Rights Club, Horizons Literary Magazine, and Prom Planning, School Lunch, and School Climate and Culture Committees among others.
Tyrik’s audition pieces showed off his wonderful stage presence and story-telling ability. He sang “This Is Not Over Yet” from Parade: Jason Robert Brown, composer and lyricist and “Family” from Dreamgirls: Tom Eyen, lyricist and Henry Krieger, composer. Tyrik is looking forward to his education at Pace University and we wish him all the best as he sets out on his career path to transform lives through his music.
2024 Scholarship Recipient - Bella Smith
Warren County Community Singers is pleased to announce Bella Smith as a recipient of a 2024 George K. Warne Scholarship. She resides in Belvidere, NJ and is a senior at Belvidere High School. She is majoring in Musical Theatre at Lipscomb University located in Nashville, Tennessee. According to Bella music has been the guiding force throughout her growing up starting with her musical parents who imbued a love of music
in her which sustained and uplifted her through difficult times. Music has been her constant companion. From singing in church, talent shows, and musical theater productions, Bella’s passion for understanding music, songwriting, and acting blossomed and grew into a vital part of her life that she now wants to pursue as a career in college.
Bella is a diverse musician who has perfect pitch and is able to play several
instruments: trumpet, piano, guitar, and drums. Her musical activities at school include Choir (including specialty choirs Chamber, Scarlet, Show, and Concert), Marching Band, lead roles in school musicals and plays, and singing The National Anthem at numerous sporting events. Outside of school, Bella played lead and supporting roles in Change the Musical at The Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg, PA, sang numerous times in the
opening act for Unspoken, a Christian band, at The Sherman Theater, sang The National Anthem at East Stroudsburg University hockey games, sang at Spruce Lake Retreat, Canadensis, PA and sang at various tree lighting events. She was honored to receive a Freddy nomination for her portrayal as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown.
Bella is a well-rounded student who has been involved with other school activities. She participated in the Student Government (Vice President), National Honor Society, Travel Club, Yearbook, Drama Club, and Leo Club (high school version of the Lions Club which encourages leadership qualities through social service activities).
Bella’s audition pieces were “Someone Like You” from Jekyll and Hyde: Frank Wildhorn, composer and lyricist and “Many a New Day” from Oklahoma: Richard Rodgers, composer, and Oscar Hammerstein ll, lyricist. They were contrasting pieces that highlighted Bella’s lovely voice and her comfortable stage presence. We wish Bella well as she pursues the opportunity to follow her dream of a music career in Nashville also known as Music City. With her determination, passion, and commitment we have no doubt she will be a success.
2023 Scholarship Recipient - Tyler Borneo
Tyler Borneo has been chosen by Warren County Community Singers as the recipient of the 2023 George K. Warne Scholarship. He resides in Phillipsburg, NJ and is a senior at Phillipsburg High School. He plans on majoring in Musical Theater at DeSales University. According to Tyler, music has played a foundational role in his entire life. His first musical theater role was a frog in Into the Woods, Jr. as a young child attending Phillipsburg Area Summer Youth Theater camp. Tyler has continued with voice, dance, and theater training throughout his youth and has appeared in numerous musical theater productions and, most recently, played Fester in Phillipsburg High School’s The Addams Family.
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Tyler has participated in many music-related activities besides his musical theater performances. In high school, he was involved with the Stateliners Singers Choir, the Drama Club, AugMENted (a student-run men’s ensemble), guitar classes, and AP Music Theory class. In addition to performing at Phillipsburg Middle School and Phillipsburg High School, he has performed outside of school in Country Gate Players productions and Phillipsburg Area Summer Youth Theater productions.
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Tyler was the recipient of two 2022 Freddy Awards which recognize and reward exceptional accomplishments in high school musical theater in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania and Warren County, NJ: Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member for the role of Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls and Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance for the same role. He was awarded the Tournament of Plays 2022 Best Performer for the role of Eddie Seabreeze in One Act Play Disaster.
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Tyler is a well-rounded student who has set high standards for himself to achieve, not only theatrically, but academically and personally. He is a member of the National Honor Society. He has worked as a counselor for both the Lopatcong Middle School Drama Club and the Phillipsburg Area Summer Youth Theater. Also, Tyler manages to find time to work as a HomeGoods Merchandise Associate.
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Tyler’s audition pieces showed off his professionalism, wonderful musicality, and good tone and dynamics. He sang “Everything to Win” from Anastasia: Music by Stephen Flaherty and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and “She Loves Me” from She Loves Me: Music by Jerry Bock and Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
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DeSales University will be fortunate to have Tyler Borneo as an incoming freshman in 2023 and we wish him success and happiness in his pursuit of his career goals.
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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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..."
