2024 Traub Art and Music Award Winners Announced

Many congratulations to the following exceptional Bloomfield Hills High School 12th grade students for being named this year’s Traub Award recipients: Art Award Winner: Andriana Nicoghosian; Music Award Winner: Amalia Socha; Art Alternate: Zainab Khatri; and Music Alternate: Henry Hutchison.

These students, along with the other 12th grade nominees, went through a rigorous interview process, submitted portfolios and performances, resumes, and essays. A panel of adjudicators, including BHHS art and music department teachers and guest judges, chose the winners and alternates based on these many submissions and interviews. The students’ courage and persistence throughout the process is admirable, and BHHS is proud of them all! The other nominees for Art included: Christine Balde, Sophie Ding, Paige Erickson, Veronica Martel, Brielyn Porter, Maheen Rashid, Zachary Ring, Sophie Scott, and Elena Selik. For Music, the nominees included: Dayna Cheatham, Gabrielle Gippert, Max Mallory, Elle Pierre, Talia Reddy, Lindsey Rillema, and Danny Stern. 

Listen to the 2024 Traub Award music nominees’ musical selections. 

View the 2024 Traub Award art nominees’ presentation.

Lucy Bates, the granddaughter of Robert C.J. Traub for whom the award is named, shared the history of the award. Bates noted, “My father realized that travel scholarships for achievements in the arts and music would benefit the Bloomfield Hills school system as well as individual students. The award spotlights the music and art departments, and acts as an incentive for their students. As one of the adjudicators this year, I feel privileged to have been able to meet you, see your artwork or listen to your audition. The experience makes me more optimistic about the future!” Principal Dan Hartley, art teacher Matt Beauchamp, and band director Alan Posner shared speeches and introduced the candidates, while Superintendent Keith McDonald presented the awards to the winners and alternates. The ceremony also included performances by The Jills and Bloomfield Chorale, led by BHHS choir director Jessica Riley, and the BHHS Symphony Orchestra, directed by BHHS orchestra director Sean Brennan. Many thanks to all the BHHS music and art staff members who facilitated this ceremony, along with BHHS administration and staff for their support and coordination of the always-impressive Traub Awards event!

For 68 years, the Traub Award has been an important cornerstone in the arts of Bloomfield Hills Schools. The Robert C.J. Traub Memorial Scholarship Travel Fund began in 1956, with a generous gift from Elizabeth Taylor Traub as a way to honor her husband, Robert C. J. Traub, and his great love of art and music. Elizabeth stipulated that the funds were to be held in trust and continue in perpetuity. The purpose of the scholarship is to contribute to the general cultural enrichment of the recipients and not primarily to advancement of their technical education in art or music. This wonderful gift enables recipients, one each year in art and music, to travel abroad and experience the rich culture and deep history of European countries. Past recipients have shared that they return with a deeper and more meaningful appreciation of their field of interest. To learn more about the Traub Award, visit this website.