G. Ray Bodley seniors Douglas VanSanford and Braeden Frost received the first Mary A. and Ernest A. Hamer Music Awards at The Fulton Music Association’s (FMA) 23rd Annual Celebration of Community Music, Saturday, May 11, at the G. Ray Bodley High School (GRB) Auditorium, it was announced by Steve Chirello, FMA president. Each Hamer award was $1,000. In addition, FMA Senior awards of $500 each were presented to Dawson Krause and Ashley Taplin. Luigi Giacomucci, GRB band director, emceed the event, and Bradford Hamer and Debra Hamer Rogers, children of the Hamers, presented the Hamer awards. In above photo, VanSanford is second from left, and Frost is second from right. With them are Bradford and Debra Hamer Rogers.
Each awardee performed a piece at the concert, which also featured the Fulton Community Band, under the direction of Carol Fox. “We are extremely grateful for the support of Mr. Giacomucci and the music staff at GRB for their assistance in the awards process,” Chirello said. “I also want to thank Jo Jo Cortini for his assistance in providing accompaniment for our award winners at the concert. We are absolutely thrilled to be able to present these first two Hamer awards, as well as our two FMA senior awards.”
The Hamer award was established by the children of Mary and Ernest Hamer for a graduating Fulton senior who plans to pursue a career in music. According to the award application, the award is “in honor and memory of Mary A. and Ernest A. Hamer and their love and support of music. The recipient will exhibit a similar love for music and the character traits the Hamers embodied; namely service to others, to their community and to their country.”
VanSanford, a percussionist, plans to pursue a dual major in Music Education and Percussion Performance at SUNY Potsdam. While at GRB, VanSanford participated in concert band, wind ensemble, and jazz ensemble. In addition, he was often requested to accompany chorus, choir, concert orchestra, and symphonic orchestra. VanSanford was also in all-county band in 2023 and 2024, and performed at the Everson Museum, New Hartford Jazz Festival, and at the Syracuse airport. He has played professionally with Jo Jo Cortini’s Little Big Band and was a member of the CNY All-Star group led by Mrs. Jennifer Vacanti and Mr. Rob Bridge in 2024. “To me, music is more than just a passion or a way to express creativity,” VanSanford said. “It is a way to communicate, to grow as a person, and to change the world around me.”
Frost, a trumpeter, plans to pursue a degree in Music Education at Syracuse University. He has participated in GRB’s wind ensemble, chamber choir, and Fulton big band. He was a member of all-county band each year, from 2016 to 2024, and a member of area all-state in 2022 and 2023. He has participated with Quirk’s players, the Syracuse Youth Wind Symphony, Fulton Community Band, and with Jo Jo Cortini’s Little Big Band. He has also participated in the Allegro 2022 Jazz Festival, Fulton Porchfest, and the Fulton Jazz Festival. “I plan to pursue a career in music education to keep the teachings of music alive in the next generations of students,” Frost said. “My hope is to teach this next wave of young people not just music, but a path to reach their goals in life.”
Taplin, a vocalist, plans to pursue a degree in Psychology at the University of Rochester, while also taking lessons in theater at the Eastman School of Music. She was a member of the GRB Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, and Chamber Choir. She also studied AP Music Theory as a junior and participated in a NYSSMA major ensemble that year. She has been part of three musical productions by Quirk’s Players, in all-county choir, NYSSMA Solo Festival, and area all-state Treble Choir. “Music is something that I have been passionate about from a very young age,” she said. “I jump at any opportunity to use my musical skills and often participate in and outside of school in musical events, such as musicals, talent shows, and performing at nursing homes. I may eventually become a music teacher because sharing my love for music with others makes me happy.”
Krause, a vocalist, plans to pursue a degree in Film and Television Production at Ithaca College. He has participated in three musical productions by Quirk’s Players, and was a member of all-county choir, area all-state choir, and he has participated in NYSSMA solo fest. “My life has revolved around the arts ever since elementary school,” he said. “This passion for creativity persists into my future plans as I intend to go into film as a producer and, ideally, an actor in order to continue delivering performances for the masses.”
All concert participants are generously donating their time for FMA, Chirello said. “In addition to helping high school students receive FMA awards this spring, FMA members will continue to help sponsor Fulton’s summer concert series at Bullhead Point and the downtown gazebo and bring special performances by the U.S Army’s 10th Mountain Div. Band right here to Fulton.”
For further information, call Carol Fox at 591-3392 or Chirello at 592-9778, or visit them on Facebook under “Fulton Music Association.”
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