The Patsy Bray Mahoney Spirit Award
The Patsy Bray Mahoney Spirit Award is presented annually at the close of the Spring Semester to a student who, in the judgment of their SSA instructors, has exemplified those qualities that are most important for a satisfying musical journey. The award recipients are assessed on their dedication, commitment, preparation and attitude towards their musical training.
The Board of SSA gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Paul Mahoney, who has made a gift to SSA and endowed this award in memory of his wife.
Anne Nelson - 2024
Anne Nelson is a senior at Lower Dauphin High School and is the daughter of Bill and Wendy Nelson. Anne has been a student at State Street Music Academy since she was 12. Along with voice lessons, Anne has been a part of her high school’s drama program for the last 4 years. This year she played Rapunzel in the musical production of, “Into the Woods”. Anne also has participated as an actor and crew member in the fall plays. Additionally, Anne has been playing violin since 4th grade, and is in her high school orchestra. She is a 3 year member of Tri-Music, French, English and National Honor Societies, along with winning Distinguished Young Woman of Dauphin County, 2023. Anne plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh this fall in their School of Public Health. Anne would like to thank her voice teacher, Ms. Amy Yovanovich, who has inspired her to never give up and to keep on singing.
Ari Callahan - 2024
Ari Callahan has been playing the violin with Joe McAnulty at State Street Academy for the past eleven years. After a Harrisburg Orchestra musician presented to their preschool, Ari fell in love with the violin and started studying with Joe just after kindergarten. Ari has played with the Harrisburg Academy and Cumberland Valley High School orchestras, the Junior Youth Strings Orchestra, and the Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra. They have participated in PMEA, District, and County Orchestras.
When not playing the violin, Ari enjoys artistic endeavors including watercolors, embroidery, and sketching. To the benefit of friends and family, Ari excels at baking delicious treats such as macarons and cakes. Ari's performances in the arts extend to choir performances with Soaring Voices at Cumberland Valley and various theater roles in the community. In their free time, Ari uses that love of performance and improv while leading Dungeons and Dragons campaigns.
Ari graduated this year from Cumberland Valley High School with Summa Cum Laude honors. They are a member of NHS and a founding member of the music honors society Tri-M for Cumberland Valley. They plan on attending the University of Washington to study Physics with a concentration in Cosmology and will minor in Music Theory. They plan on auditioning for the University's orchestra and are so grateful for the pivotal role State Street has played in supporting their love of the violin and music.
Aidan Emery - 2023
Aidan Emery is a graduating senior from Bishop Mcdevitt High School. He has taken voice lessons with Miss. Amy since the 8th grade, and also began taking piano lessons with Mrs. Erica started his junior year. During his time at Bishop McDevitt, Aidan was involved in the choir all four years, and the Chorale for since his sophomore year. He has had leading roles in junior and senior year musicals, with Aidan being Lefou in Beauty and the Beast his junior year and Harold Hill in The Music Man his senior year. He also played Mr. Green in Clue and Bertram Cates in Inherit the Wind. Aidan is looking to attend the University of Mary Washington this upcoming fall and plans to major in International Business. Aidan would like to give a huge thank you to his family and teachers, especially Miss. Amy who helped him find his passion.
Kael Childers -2023
Kael Childers is 16 years old, was born in Oregon, and moved to Pennsylvania when he was 5 years old. Soon after, he joined SSA, and has played the violin ever since. Kael is a homeschooled student, who enjoys spending time with his seven siblings and taking care of the sheep, goats, cows, and chickens on his family’s farm. In addition, Kael loves track and field, and has participated in many 5k races and other sporting events. He is very inquisitive and motivated, and studies classes on Spanish and economics. He has a passion for classical music and literature, and is very excited to continue learning the violin.
Kimia Folks - 2023
“Junior” Spirit Award Winner
Kimia Folks lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with her parents, Jonathan & Jamie and three of her eight siblings. She has been homeschooling since 4th grade and first started her piano lessons in July 2017. Kimia has always loved music, such as singing and dancing, and enjoys composing her own pieces whether they are lyrics, notes or both on the piano. Her favorite composers who inspire her are Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven and Bach. It wasn’t until she was older that she realized what an impact music has made in her life. Music is like therapy for Kimia. When she was adopted she struggled with a few things in life. Music is where she goes for an outlet when she just needs to breathe. Kimia wouldn’t be who she is now without it.
Angel Gulé - 2022
Angel Gulé, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, is a junior at Bishop McDevitt High School. She has studied violin with Joe McAnulty for the last 9yrs. Angel has lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for most of my life, with interests in many things such as my violin, soccer, and softball. At Bishop McDevitt, she takes honors classes, and is involved in many clubs such as Christian Service Club, Spanish Club, Book Club, and also Student Council. She is also a member of the HYSO Orchestra. Angel was the Gold Medal Winner of the NAACP ACT-SO Competition this year, and will be going to Atlantic City to perform at the NAACP Convention this summer. She considers herself an adrenaline junkie, for she likes to ride every single ride at Hershey Park. Angel also has a job at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Hazel Tilder - 2022
Hazel is 15, and has studied piano at SSA with Erica Ickes for seven years, and percussion with John Tuzza for nearly 2 years! She performed vocals in front of an audience for the first time at her drum recital this spring. This year she participated in the Piano Extravaganza concert at the Scottish Rite Theater. Outside of music, Hazel is a Visual Art student at Capital Area School for the Arts and swims with the Hershey Coralettes synchronized swim team. She is grateful for all she has learned from her teachers at SSA and is excited to continue to learn and play more music!
Kyle Stevens - 2021
Kyle Stevens, has been studying violin since the age of ten, and has been a student of SSA since 2016. He began studying with Hope Bowling and in 2018 transitioned to Joe McAnulty. Throughout high school, Kyle played violin, oboe and guitar in his schools’ credited ensembles. In addition, Kyle played in the pit orchestra for multiple Central Dauphin musicals, and a musical production at Central Dauphin Technical High School. Kyle served as a band officer for his junior and senior years. Outside of school, Kyle also has played violin with the Lebanon Valley College Orchestra, and Harrisburg Youth Symphony Orchestra. Kyle will be studying Music History at Temple University in the fall of 2021.
Sia B. - 2021
“Junior” Spirit Award Winner
Sia is an elementary school student who lives in Harrisburg with her family. She enjoys being creative, likes to draw and create lego movies with her brothers. An avid reader, with lots of imagination and a growing interest in theater, Sia's love for the arts is evident in most of her everyday activities. Sia studies Voice and Violin and is entering her fifth year as a student at State Street Academy of Music.