Whiz Kid: Lee Meadvin
School:
Accomplishment: Being nominated as an outstanding instrumentalist by The High School Theater Awards, presented by the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre.
Key to Awesomeness: For some people, musical talent seems to come easily. This is true for the versatile musician Lee Meadvin, a resident of Cortlandt Manor and a senior at Hendrick Hudson High School.
Meadvin, the youngest of four siblings, sees himself as a guitarist first, then a drummer and a clarinet player. He has played clarinet in the wind ensemble at the high school for four years, and drums in the school marching band and in the pit orchestra—in addition to some professional gigs around the region.
It was for HHHS’s spring musical—the production of “The Pajama Game”—that he is nominated for his pit orchestra drumming skills as an “outstanding instrumentalist.” The High School Theater Awards Group is a sort of “Tony Awards” for high school musical theater productions in Westchester and Rockland counties.
“I was not surprised that Lee got nominated,” said Ben Acrish, the high school’s band director who has taught Meadvin and has known him for seven years. “He is a very intuitive musician with a great feel for any kind of music—he is really very talented.”
The 17-year old student said he was flattered by the nomination, especially because he does not see himself as a drummer. “It was nice to hear that I was recognized for the show,” he said. The awards ceremony will take place on June 4 at the
Meadvin said his passion musically, however, is for jazz. “I love improvisation and that is what draws me to the genre—the way that improv flows in jazz fits well with how I perceive things naturally as a creative and musical person.” To this end, the well-rounded student will pursue Jazz Studies at New York Universiety’s Steinhardt School in the fall.
And as he looks back at four years at Hendrick Hudson High School, Meadvin said he feels grateful that he was part of a strong community of people who care about music.
“There have been networks of people at the high school who make things happen," he said. “Every year, these people step up and put in the extra effort for us musicians.”
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Other students and groups are also nominated for high school theater awards as well:
The school’s performance of “71/2 Cents” in “The Pajama Game” is nominated for Outstanding Production number; Noah Ruff (who played Hines) is nominated for Outstanding Comic Performance for his role in “The Pajama Game;” the school’s orchestra was nominated for Outstanding Orchestra and school drummer Lee Meadvin was nominated for outstanding instrumentalist.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Paramount Center for the Arts on June 4 from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
