Celebrating Five Years of the Neighborhood Music Project

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Neighborhood Music Project—a collaboration between Trenton Arts at Princeton and Princeton University Concerts—we rebranded our annual Express the Music contest as the Express the Arts contest. Trenton students in our Saturday Morning Arts program were invited to respond to the following questions with creative writing or drawing entries:

“What or who inspires you to create art?”

“Who was your favorite guest, and what did you learn from their visit? This can be a guest artist who performed at the beginning of a rehearsal, or a guest who visited your specific Saturday Morning Arts group."

The entries were judged by Marna Seltzer, director of Princeton University Concerts; Dasha Koltunyuk, outreach manager of Princeton University Concerts; and Cammie Lee ’22.

Learn more about the winners below. Read their winning entries online in a limited edition zine curated and designed by Cammie Lee '22.

First Place: Madelin Lopez Delcid, 12th grade

Madelin Lopez Delcid is a 12th grader at Trenton Central High School and a member of Trenton Youth Singers. Her relationship to the arts has varied over the years, from coloring and drawing to singing with TYS. Creating art helps her release her ideas on paper and explore many new art mediums, including painting, wood burning, and ceramics. She expresses her appreciation and love for people through art, and often creates art for her family and friends. Witnessing their reactions to her work motivates her to continue pursuing her interest in the arts. One interesting fact about Madelin is that she can move the muscles of her ears! Next year, she will attend Swarthmore College. Her winning drawing, Produced by the Heart, was inspired by TYS.

Second Place: Anna Lin, 12th grade

Anna Lin is a 12th grader at Trenton Central High School and a violinist in the Trenton Youth Orchestra. She decided to enter the Express the Arts contest because this is her last year of high school, so she wanted to take on a new challenge. She is passionate about her relationship to God. Next year, she will attend Messiah College. Her winning poem, “Artworks of Masterpiece,” was inspired by her Christian faith.

Second Place: Roselyn Samayoa, 11th grade

Roselyn Samayoa is an 11th grader at Trenton Central High School and the pianist for the Trenton Youth Orchestra. Painting with acrylics helps her visualize what she feels, organize her mind, and imagine new places. Colors relax her. She entered the contest this year for the opportunity to have her art in a magazine, and to show her mom that everything her mom has supported her through has not been in vain. She is passionate about music, and loves the fact that what she plays might make the listener feel something powerful. Inspired by her music teacher, Mr. Plunkett, she hopes to produce depths of emotion within her listeners. Her winning painting, Make It New Again, was inspired by the Baroque violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte. 

Third Place: Valentina Estevez Torrez, 11th grade

Valentina Estevez Torrez is an 11th grader at Trenton Central High School and a member of Trenton Youth Theater. Her relationship to the arts has been a journey of self-expression through theater and creative writing. She loves being able to share her thoughts and feelings though poetic and artistic outlets. As a first-generation immigrant, Valentina is motivated by her love for her family, and especially her parents. The thought of providing for her parents and giving back to them for everything they've done for her drives her forward. Valentina loves meeting new people, developing friendships, and making people feel safe around her. She also has a DoorDash addiction. In her winning short essays, she reflects on her love of music and theater.

Honorary Mention: Brittany Masís Aguilar, 12th grade

Britany Masís Aguilar is a 12th grader at Trenton Central High School and a member of Trenton Youth Theater. Her relationship to creative writing goes way back to her childhood and her desire to discover new things. This led her to start reading and eventually write her own stories. At some point, she realized her stories could be about how she felt, which gave her the freedom to express herself however she wanted. She is passionate about science and medicine, and specifically about forensic science. If she could watch one movie for the rest of her life, it would be Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. Next year, she will attend Mercer County Community College. In her winning short story, “Anagorisis,” she reflects on her creative journey.