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Four Northern New York Students Named JP North
Country Music Scholarship Recipients
Published: September 04, 2026
at 08:30 a.m.
By: Press Release from Northern New York Community
Foundation
Four Northern New York Students Named JP North
Country Music Scholarship Recipients
Three students pursuing music educators while fourth
studying composition
WATERTOWN — Four members of
the Class of 2026 are the first recipients of the Northern New York
Community Foundation JP North Country Music Scholarship.
Olivia Ashley, Emery F.
Monnat, Joshua P. Weiler, and Madison E. Williams were
each recently awardeda one-year, $750 scholarship
during a presentation with scholarship founder, SUNY Potsdam Crane School
of Music Professor Emeritus James “JP” Petercsak.
An acclaimed
music educator and percussionist, Professor Emeritus Petercsak touched the
lives of countless students throughout a career of more than 50 years as a
professor at the Crane School of Music. He joined the faculty in 1968 and
served as head of percussion until his retirement in 2023.
The JP North
Country Music Scholarship extends his life’s work in many facets of music
as a performer- teacher, conductor, clinician, consultant, and as a music
industry personality and visionary. The scholarship also ensures that his
spirit of innovation, generosity, and dedication to music
performance-teaching will continue to inspire young musicians for
generations to come.
“This scholarship
supports the values of the people from the North Country while inspiring
future musicians to pursue their dreams in music and develop their talents;
it is one more way to help young musicians in the community succeed,”
Professor Emeritus Petercsak said. “I am honored to partner with the
Community Foundation to help developing musicians on their educational
journeys.”
Established at
the Community Foundation in 2025, the scholarship supports students from
Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties who are pursuing studies in
music. Preference is given to students seeking a degree in music
performance or who plan to attend the Crane School of Music.
“It is a great
joy to work with someone who has been such a role model to so many during
his career and has a deep desire to continue to help students in their
pursuits. It is wonderful to see Jim’s vision for this scholarship
fulfilled and his impact extended with recipients from Jefferson, Lewis and
St. Lawrence counties who are advancing their musical journeys,” Community
Foundation President and CEO Rande S. Richardson said.
About the
recipients
From left: Class of 2026 Northern New York Community
Foundation JP North Country Music Scholarship recipients
Madison E. Williams and Emery F. Monnat, both
Carthage High School; SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music Professor Emeritus
and
scholarship founder James “JP” Petercsak;
scholarship recipients Olivia Ashley, Potsdam High School and
Joshua P. Weiler, Lowville Academy & Central
School
Olivia Ashley graduated in June
from Potsdam High School. She recently began her freshman year at SUNY
Potsdam’s Crane School of Music where she studies music education. She
aspires to become a music teacher. Olivia is the daughter of Kristen and
Shaun Ashley, Potsdam.
Emery F. Monnat graduated in June
from Carthage High School. She recently began her freshman year at SUNY
Potsdam’s Crane School of Music where she studies music education. She
aspires to become a music teacher. Emery is the daughter of Karalyn and
Gwyn Monnat, Watertown.
Joshua P. Weiler graduated in June
from Lowville Academy & Central School. He recently began his freshman
year at Berklee College of Music, Boston, where he studies
music composition. He aspires to become a composer. Joshua is the son of
Michelle and Patrick Weiler, Lowville.
Madison E.
Williams graduated in June from Carthage High School. She recently began her
freshman year at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music where she studies
music education. She aspires to become a music teacher. Madison is the
daughter of Catherine Cramer-Williams, Carthage.
Renowned for his
artistry and vision Professor Emeritus Petercsak performed with world-class
orchestras, opera companies, and entertainers, while also expanding Crane’s
percussion curriculum to embrace diverse musical traditions. He touched the
lives of countless students, and his influence is felt globally. His
students have gone on to enjoy successful careers on multiple continents,
becoming educators at many of the world’s finest colleges and universities,
in-demand performers, accomplished composers, arrangers, arts
administrators, advocates for the arts and executives in the music business
industry.
Professor
Emeritus Petercsak’s achievements and honors as a music educator and
percussionist are extensive. He was recognized as a SUNY Distinguished
Teaching Professor and, in 2003, was honored by the SUNY Potsdam Alumni
Association with an Honorary Life Membership. He is a former international
president of the Percussive Arts Society, and in recognition of his
extraordinary contributions, he was inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame. He
was also instrumental in the establishment of the Crane Institute for Music
Business and Entrepreneurship.
About the
Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the
Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and
enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson,
Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through
partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual
donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an
endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment
to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for
generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community
philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community
Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors,
professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring
people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy
Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative
solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live,
work, and play.
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