POTSDAM – Orchestra of Northern New York has been selected as a recipient of a Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge grant, sponsored by the Northern New York Community Foundation and Stage Notes.

The $500 grant was based on an essay written by Indian River Middle School student Jasmine Berasategui. Students were asked to choose a charitable organization in St. Lawrence, Jefferson or Lewis county that helps make their community a better place.

"The organization that I choose that will make the community a better place is the Orchestra of Northern New York. I choose this because the orchestra plays amazing music and is very good at it. Plus, the people in the orchestra are amazing and their music can inspire young musicians or can improve people who are playing an instrument at the time," according to Berasategui.

"If this donation goes to the orchestra, then the orchestra will have more performances, making others who love music happy, and will inspire young musicians and help others out," she said.