Way to Go! Herricks, Jericho flutists named contest winners

Student flutists from Herricks High School and Jericho Middle School were winners in a statewide contest coordinated by the New York Flute Club.

Meredith Daly of Herricks High School and Queenie Dai of Jericho Middle School were among seven recognized in the club's 2022 Young Musicians Contest. This year's contest consisted of 65 contestants who submitted video entries of themselves performing during the winter.

For winning, they were invited to perform this spring at the New York Flute Fair in Manhattan. Daly performed Franz Doppler's "Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise," and Dai performed Paul Taffanel's “Fantasy (on Themes Based on ‘Der Freischutz’).” 

"It was an honor to be selected as a winner this year," Daly said. "I was so excited to be able to share my love of music with everyone and to have the opportunity to perform at the Flute Fair with the other winners."

Daly's other achievements include placing second in an international competition coordinated by the Queensboro Symphony Orchestra in 2020 and being a member of the Long Island Youth Orchestra and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York.

Dai has attended Manhattan School of Music's Pre-College Program since the age of 11 and has participated in the all-county band since 2019.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.