Ronkonkoma Middle School eighth grade student Katlyn Morgan Smith continues to make vast strides in both the Long Island music community and surrounding areas. 

Katlyn is an active participant in Ronkonkoma Middle School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society, Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. She also participates in LISFA, NYSSMA, SCMEA, and was recently the Grand Prix winner at the International Concert Festival Competition at Weill Recital Hall this past March. 

She began playing violin and piano at the young age of 5, and due to her commitment to her studies, she is now currently studying under Anton Polezhayev, who was a part of the New York Philharmonic. 

Along with her older sister Ashely, the two student-musicians formed their own ensemble, and were booked by Live Nation to perform at Westbury Music Fair and other fundraising performances. They have also recorded at Sound City Cove Studios and have many music videos available to watch on YouTube. 

Her aspiration this year is to prepare and participate in the Menuhin Competition in 2020. Katlyn would like to thank her parents, instructors, arrangers and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra for her successes thus far. 

“My compassion for music has always come from my heart,” she said. “It brings people together, it makes them feel emotion, and brings them back to their favorite memories.”