2024 Scholarship Winners

Since the 1980’s, the Kingston Männerchor and Damenchor has invited applications
from graduating seniors at our local high schools for our scholarships. There are now
two types: 1. Excellence in German Language and Music, and 2. Excellence in Choral
Singing and Individual Performance, without a specific German requirement, but a
demonstrated interest in European language and culture.
This year, we had one winner for each type of award:
1. Ben Ostfeld from Red Hook High School applied for the scholarship in German and
Music. He presents outstanding credentials and is a National Merit Scholarship
Finalist. He has studied voice since age 11 and is fascinated by the way the
combination of words and music can convey a depth of emotion. He has had roles in
7 musicals at RHHS, most recently Billy Flynn in a production of Chicago. He is also a
lead singer in a funk band called Chocolate Jam.
As a member of the choir since middle school, he has enjoyed exploring music
from different cultures, sung in different languages. It is music and singing that led
him to the study of German. The 4 songs he performed at the NYSSMA solo festival
during his high school career were in German. He has studied German since 2018
and loves the musicality of the language, but German has also led him to study
political theory and the philosphy of Marx, Kant, and Nietzsche, for example.
Ben intends to continue singing in choirs in college and perhaps join an a capella
group. He hopes to keep performing in musical theater and to read his favorite
German philosophers in their original language. If possible, he would like to study
abroad in Germany or Austria during his college years.

2. Melissa Adashko-Rein from New Paltz High School has been playing (with and on)
the piano since she was 3 years old and started to sing in the choir in fourth grade.
In sixth grade, she started acting, relishing every rehearsal. She has been an active
Choir member since she started high school and has been involved in NYSSMA, a
capella, theater and school musicals. She applied for the scholarship in Choral
Music and Individual Performance. She performed a solo in her choir concert this
winter. When she is not onstage performing with the Drama Club, she serves as
costume, lighting or set designer, or as the manager for a crowded house. Her solo at
level 6 All State NYSSMA earned her a 96 and qualified her for Area All State. She is
very interested in European culture and learning about the world through music.
She has taken Spanish classes and would have taken German, had it been offered at
New Paltz High School. She plans to study Early Childhood Education in college and
is deciding which of the multiple offers she has received she should accept. She
plans to join the college choirs and to continue participating in Theater as well.
Eventually, she wants to earn a Master’s Degree for teaching.

We congratulate both of our winners and wish them well in their future adventures.