Yorktown Heights, NY June 2, 2026 — The Justin Veatch Fund will award four new music scholarships this month to graduating high school seniors from four high schools. This year’s recipients are Devin Robinson of Yorktown High School, Oliver Lee Schlecter of John Jay High School, Ella Stark of Fox Lane High School, and Cormac J. Taylor of Croton Harmon High School.
83 music scholarships awarded since 2009
Each year, The Justin Veatch Fund awards music scholarships to graduating high school seniors within a 40-mile radius of Yorktown Heights. The scholarships honor the legacy of Justin Veatch, a Yorktown High School senior who died from an accidental drug overdose in 2008. “It’s mind-boggling to realize that we’ve been awarding these scholarships for 17 years — exactly as long as Justin was with us,” says Elena Veatch, Justin’s sister and a board member of the fund. “It’s great to see his legacy live on through talented young musicians in the area.”
Economic necessity has forced The Fund to reduce the number of scholarships from six to four this year. An awards program held at Yorktown Town Hall for the past few years will not be held but each recipient will still receive the iconic engraved working metronome along with a $1,200 check.
The 2026 Recipients
Devin Robinson
Devin Robinson is studying trumpet with a dream to someday perform in symphony orchestras. He will be attending the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Robinson says what began as a casual hobby, due to the trumpet’s steep learning curve, has grown into a true passion. Teachers describe Robinson as a hardworking and friendly student with refined composition and arrangement skills, a hunger for excellence, and the ability to lead his peers by positive example.
Oliver Lee Schlecter
Oliver Lee Schlecter is a pianist who aspires to become a professional music producer. A humble yet accomplished cornerstone of John Jay’s House band, he plays a key role in the school’s theatrical productions. In fact, the ensemble director notes that Schlecter has outperformed many of the professional musicians hired to accompany students, calling him more prepared and equally talented. Another teacher ranks him among the top one percent of students they have taught in 25 years. Schlecter plans to attend Berklee College of Music in the fall.
Ella Stark
Ella Stark, a flutist, plans to attend Binghamton University. Her passion for music has shaped her deep commitment to creativity and community service. As president of her school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society, Stark has expanded opportunities for students to connect music with community impact. She also founded a mentorship program for elementary students and advocates for greater accessibility for those with special needs. Teachers praise Stark’s unique ability to inspire others around her to embrace inclusivity and find joy through music.
Cormac J. Taylor
Cormac J. Taylor plans to study jazz performance at William Paterson University, with a focus on tenor saxophone and additional proficiency in flute, clarinet, and piano. A graduate of the Jazz at Lincoln Center middle school program and a member of the NYSSMA All-State Jazz Big Band, he has already begun working as a professional musician while continuing his studies. Taylor views music as a unifying force and a gift to all listeners. His teachers describe him as a true artist — an exceptional improviser and interpreter of song with an unrelenting thirst for more knowledge.
The Justin Veatch Fund is a 501(c)3 organization and a registered New York State charity.
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