Academy Awards 2025

6/24/2025

This year marked the 23nd year of Brimmer’s Academy Awards, an annual celebration of our students’ contributions to the performing and visual arts programs throughout the year! Following a festive reception and an outstanding fashion show featuring designs from our Upper School students in Kathryn Lee's Fashion Design class, Academy Award hosts Mae Gordon and Maddie Pogoda took the stage, delighting the audience with their energy and charisma. The Upper School Instrumental Ensemble, led by Middle and Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher Alex Ostergard, provided upbeat and lively interludes as student, faculty, and alumni presenters handed out awards.

Awards were given to Middle and Upper School artists for their outstanding contributions onstage and behind-the-scenes in our plays and musicals, for their vocal and instrumental efforts in our ensembles, and for their commitment and developing talent in our visual arts classes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS:

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS

1. Breakout Performance by a Technician

Chloe Chang as Assistant Stage Manager in Newsies

2. Outstanding Performance by a Technician

Eli Gauld as Stage Manager in Newsies

3. Breakout Performance in a Play

Ollie Angoff as Edmund in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

4. Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Play

Lila Saghbini as Witch’s Magic in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

5. Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play

Joshua Sommers as Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Sasha Lewis as Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

6. Breakout Performance in a Musical

Eva Mckee as Les in Newsies

7. Outstanding Dance Performance in a Musical

Anna Zohren as JoJo in Newsies

8. Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Musical

Henry Morrison as Snyder in Newsies

9. Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Veronica Castro as Wiesel in Newsies

Antonio Vargas as Race in Newsies

10. Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Play

Cole Esrick as Aslan in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Izzy Miller as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

11. Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical

Mia Heyman as Katherine in Newsies

Jasper Hall as Jack in Newsies

UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS

12. Outstanding Production Poster

Newsies, Jr. by Sabrina Wang

13. Outstanding Event Poster

Holiday Concert by Sophia Sampaio

14. Breakout Performance by a Technician

Anastasiia Lobortas as Sound Board Operator for Hadestown

15. Outstanding Performance by a Technician

Stella Bowman as Stage Manager for Hadestown

16. Breakout Performance in a Production

Leo Karnes as Goyle and Others in Puffs

17. Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Play

Austin Hsiao as Harry and Colin in Puffs

18. Outstanding Dance Performance in a Musical

Abby Jacobs as Ensemble in Hadestown

19. Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Musical

Mary Wang as Ensemble in Hadestown

22. Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play

Abigail MacLean as Leanne and Others in Puffs

23. Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Claire Fleming as Fate 2 in Hadestown

24. Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Play

Claire Fleming as Megan Jones in Puffs

Nikka Souza as Oliver Rivers in Puffs

25. Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical

Meera Gandhi as Eurydice in Hadestown

Huck Jennings as Hermes in Hadestown

Departmental Awards Visual Art

Emerging Talent Award —Neil Chen

Discovery Award — Maya Thompson

Total Immersion Award — Dahlia Kirwan-Smith

Renaissance Award — Merrin Lindenfelser

Greenline Awards

Most Improved Singer— Leo Latino

Choral Excellence Award — Binyam Tsegai

Middle School Band

Spirit Award —Parker Kapson

Instrumental Excellence —Cam Davis

Upper School Band

Spirit Award —Austin Hsiao

Instrumental Excellence — Bede Paasch-Pearce

Digital Cinema Awards

Best Movie — Austin Hsiao Come Find Me

Best Editing — Ava Bruell