Senior Nawar Aboud is a celebrity within the music department – this fame, of course, emphasized by her quadruple instrument power. With a musical journey that began in first grade, Aboud has made a name for herself over the last 12 years as a multi-talented instrumentalist.
Aboud picked up her first instrument before students could even join the orchestra or band classes at West End Elementary School. “I started playing the violin in [first] grade, and then in third grade I began playing the flute,” Aboud shared. Since then, she has expanded her woodwind talents to the piccolo through Wind Ensemble, is currently a member of Treble Choir, and plays piano and guitar for fun. Beyond Wind Ensemble and Treble Choir, Aboud is also a violinist and a member of the String and Chamber Orchestras. Additionally, she plays for the Pit Orchestra in the school musicals and accompanies the Mixed Chorus during concerts. Aboud’s talent is not limited to in-school ensembles: “Outside of school, I’m in Long Island Youth Orchestra, Nassau-Suffolk [Orchestra], and Five Towns Symphony Orchestra.”
While Aboud possesses a great deal of natural talent as observed by her music teachers, a musician’s true greatness can be measured by his/her ability to grow as a musician. Shaun Lazar, Aboud’s private studio violin teacher, has witnessed this firsthand after years of working with Aboud. “Nawar was a shy and quiet player as a young student and has emerged as a leader in her ensembles not only as a great violinist, but also as a brilliant flutist,” remarked Lazar.
Aboud’s LHS music teachers are also privy to her growth. “This year, I have seen Nawar make big strides in getting the most sound out of her instrument,” explained orchestra teacher Veronica Underhill. “She has inspired many just by being so present and visible as a performer—and soloist—in so many ensembles. She has also taught our younger Lynbrook students through Tri-M [the high school’s music honor society],” Underhill continued. Band teacher Brian White agreed: “Her playing, her accolades that she’s earned…just speak to everything that she’s done. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
In addition to instrumental growth, leadership is a key quality of a great musician in an ensemble setting. “I would say that Nawar is in that group of leading by example. You just know that she’s sitting there, and she learned that music, and she worked on that music, and she’s playing it perfectly. That’s the role model that you want, starting from the beginning of the year, starting from marching band,” White explained. Knowing that Aboud was a strong leader in the beginning of the year heavily influenced his choice in the Wind Ensemble’s Spring Concert set. “Some of the music I picked, I picked because I knew she could lead a flute section through it. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’ve not had to single them out [in rehearsal] very many times. It’s really impeccable, and they have a great leader,” White emphasized.
It is more than just teachers who observe Aboud’s talent and inspirational qualities; her peers do as well. As a childhood friend and fellow violinist, senior Nora Kane has witnessed Aboud’s musicianship both in and outside of the orchestra room. “Nawar always ‘goes for it.’ If she wants to do something, she will do it and give it her all,” Kane commented. “She always shows up, she’s always in a good mood, she’s always working hard, and she’s a great example to younger kids,” Kane further explained.
Aside from the legacy she is leaving in the music department, Aboud has also made many memories along the way. “My favorite high school musical experience would have to be the Disney trip. On that trip, I met so many other people in the music program and became much closer friends with so many people in the music department,” Aboud reflected.
Aboud has shared some of her musical memories with her friends. On one occasion, Aboud utilized her arranging expertise to create a fun experience for herself, Kane, and another senior violinist and friend, Elizabeth Charpentier, for their Cabaret Night audition. “She arranged a three-person arrangement of ‘Another Day of Sun’ from La La Land last year for me, her, and Liz, and she just did it because she could,” Kane shared.
Talented musicians implement a practice regimen in order to improve their skills, and Aboud is no exception to this in regard to her main instruments. “I practice a lot of technique things and then apply them to the pieces I am playing,” Aboud explained. She also revealed a specific strategy she uses: “I like to look at smaller things within each piece before looking at the whole thing.”
While Aboud’s talent and musicianship have grown as a result of her self-efficacy, the people around her have been integral to her musical journey as well. For Aboud, her parents have been her main support system the last 12 years. “[My parents] always come to my concerts and help get me to rehearsals,” Aboud shared. She specifically spotlighted her mother as a source of inspiration: “I look up to my mom the most. She has always motivated me and given me the support I need to be able to continue in music.”
As mentioned, a majority of Aboud’s time is spent being involved in music groups. In addition to being an instrumentalist in many groups, she is also the treasurer of Tri-M. Despite the challenges, Aboud has successfully juggled her music activities alongside her academics. “Being in so many groups, I have to make sure I practiced the music for each, so I have learned how to manage my time really well,” Aboud explained.
Because of her extensive musical journey, Aboud has garnered enough experience to be able to pass on knowledge to future musicians who aspire to be like her. “I would tell younger students to just keep practicing and not give up when something gets hard. Learning an instrument can be difficult at times, but it is very rewarding when you are able to learn something you have been struggling with,” she advised.
Although Aboud’s musical journey at the high school is coming to an end, her overall musical career is not. She will be attending Ithaca College in the fall with a major in flute performance. Kane is endlessly proud of her friend for this accomplishment: “Going to school for music is pretty cool. I think that’s kind of awesome.”
