Emma Okell named Governor’s Scholar

SHARON — Sharon resident Emma Okell, a 17-year-old junior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, has been selected as a Governor’s Scholar for the state of Connecticut.Each year, one junior is nominated from every high school in the state to write an essay that will qualify him or her to win the scholarship. Out of 169 essays, 30 were chosen, including the one that Emma wrote about what it means to be a scholar and an intellectual.Emma, who said she tends to be a straight-A student, is involved with many extracurricular activities at school. She is a member of the junior class council, and also participates in many performing arts groups. She is a member of the school’s jazz choir and the girls-only Sweethearts choir.She also acts, and recently appeared in the Housatonic Musical Theater Society’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” She is on the high school’s Envirothon team as well.Emma is now beginning her college search. She doesn’t have a first choice yet.“I’m just looking around at different colleges. I want to get a feel for the campuses and figure out what I’m looking for in a school before I apply,” she said.

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Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

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Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

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Born Feb. 12, 1942, in Ossining, New York, Richard was son of the late Howard Stone and Victoria (Smith) Stone.

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