Program Book Insert - Music Student of the Month: April 2015

April

Music Students of the MontH

Peter Bacas Grade 12, Morristown High School - Nominated by Michael Russo Peter performs on Clarinet in the Wind Ensemble and on Tenor Saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble. He has performed with Pit Orchestra for the School Musicals and annually in the Solo and Small Ensemble Concert. Peter has successfully auditioned for the Region I Junior High School Jazz Ensemble; Region I Senior High School Jazz Ensemble and the prestigious All-State Jazz Ensemble! Peter possesses great desire and works very hard to achieve his goals. His natural enthusiasm combined with his preparedness for his ensemble rehearsals make him a student I am eager to challenge in my teaching. He is the one of the most talented students I have had the pleasure of working with in my thirty years in education.

Christina Baker Grade 10, Dover High School – Nominated by Daniel Vazquez Christina has played trumpet for our marching band, concert band, and jazz band. As a freshman she quickly excelled at all three. This year in addition to being lead trumpet in marching and jazz band, Christina has started to learn the French horn. Again she has become an amazing musician on that instrument as well. She currently is the best brass musician at Dover High School.

Zack Boettcher Grade 9, Mount Olive High School – Nominated by John DiEgidio Zack is one of the most talented percussionists we’ve had as a ninth grader! He already plays “set” in our top jazz ensemble and has surpassed all of his peers. Not only can he play by ear, but he can also read music. He’s adept at a variety of styles. Furthermore, Zack participates in the Marching band and plays mallets, timpani, snare and set percussion.

Kevin Chesney Grade 8, Pequannock Valley Middle School – Nominated by Jeff Foth We have chosen Kevin as outstanding brass player due to his “can do” attitude. Kevin started in grade five and has not only tremendous growth and has demonstrated incredible leadership within the music program as a whole. Kevin has participated in our high school marching band, concert band for four years, played tree lighting ceremonies with the high school brass group, played Veterans Day Ceremonies and accompanied the middle school choir on trumpet. Through his diversified playing opportunities Kevin has done so with the positive demeanor and attitude Victoria Cotero Grade 8, Eisenhower Middle School – Nominated by David Adams & Jeffrey Conrad Victoria joined band in 6th grade and chose euphonium as her instrument. She has been committed to private euphonium lessons outside of school. Inside of school, she has been an active member of our band program. Not only is she a leader in the 8th grade band, but she is a two year member of both our auditioned honors level groups at the middle school -The EMS Jazz Band and The EMS Honors Band. Both groups perform advanced level music and require a serious commitment from participating students. Also, this year Victoria successfully auditioned for the NJSMA Jr. Region Band and through her commitment to practice and private lessons, placed first chair by a substantial margin. Victoria is a pleasure to have in class. Her positive attitude, strong work-ethic, and her willingness to go above and beyond with any task given make her an exceptional student musician.

The 2014-2015 Music Student of the Month program is sponsored by The Provident Bank Foundation

Lucas Folan Grade 10, Parsippany Hills High School – Nominated by Michael Iapicca Lucas has taken a very serious interest in jazz music, and improvisation. He is constantly asking me questions about who to listen to, and giving me suggestions on people to check out. He is actively taking lessons, and studying jazz beyond his school work. As a saxophonist myself, I really enjoy the sophisticated conversations about playing saxophone, and jazz that I have with Lucas.

Michael Harrison Grade 11, Kinnelon High School – Nominated by Ryan Stroud Michael has been a stalwart in our band programs at KHS, ranging from our Wind Ensemble to Jazz Band to our Pit Orchestra. He does an excellent job in whatever he puts his mind to. We know we can always rely on him to be a leader, both musically and as a student, at all times. Michael is one of the most naturally gifted musicians in our band program, and he’s a fine example of excellence in music in Kinnelon High School.

Brian Kong Grade 8, Brooklawn Middle School – Nominated by Joseph Stella Brian is one of the lead trumpet players in the 8th grade band at Brooklawn Middle School. He has had several trumpet solos at our band concerts. He also plays trumpet in the school’s jazz band and pit orchestra for the Spring musical. In addition to Brian’s talent on the trumpet, he is also an exceptional cellist and vocalist, having been selected to Region and State level ensembles in the past couple years. His diligence as a musician and his involvement in all aspects of the music program make him an excellent choice for this month’s MSOM. Mark Murphy Grade 6, Mount Olive Middle School – Nominated by Megan McQueeny Mark is not only a member of the sixth grade band, but he is also a member of our Jazz Band and Junior Winds group. Both of these after-school ensembles are audition only. For only being in sixth grade, his range on his instrument is outstanding. He is a featured soloist on one of the jazz songs we are performing.

Mark is also is a model student who succeeds in his other academic classes as well. Mark is one of the first students to be in his seat ready for band and is always warming up with scales or long tones without even being asked. He comes down during every lunch period to practice and takes private lessons as well. He is a dedicated member of the music program and is truly an Outstanding Brass Member and Jazz Musician!

Kyle Ting Grade 12, Parsippany High School – Nominated by Gregory Dalakian Kyle Ting has been an outstanding member of all the ensembles at PHS during his entire high school career.

He has continuously made the North Jersey Area Band and Region Band on Trombone, and even made both Region and All-State Bands this past year on Bass Trombone. He has also made Region Orchestra in past years on the Cello. He has been a great asset to our Music Program through his performance in our Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Pit Orchestra, and especially our Marching Band and Jazz Band. Kyle is always willing to go above and beyond to improve his playing skills by spending his summers marching in Drum and Bugle Corps (marching Euphonium) and taking private lessons on trombone and cello. He has been a leader in our Marching Band as the Baritone Section Leader, helping others improve and succeed.

He is always willing to solo in Jazz Band and has been our lead trombone player all four years of high school.

Cole Whittenburg Grade 12, Roxbury High School – Nominated by Sarah Bednarcik Cole is an outstanding tubist getting ready to pursue music in college. He has been a member of the Roxbury High School Instrumental Program for his entire school career, participating in all of our curricular, extra-curricular and chamber ensembles. He also currently plays bass trombone (very well) in our top jazz ensemble. In fact, he is hoping to pursue a trombone minor in addition to a tuba major in college. He has been a member of all the Jr. Region, Region and All-State ensembles, and this year he was the 1st chair tubist in the state of New Jersey. He is also a peer mentor for our middle school students, observing and helping out daily during band class. Cole is an incredibly bright student with a strong work ethic - the progress he has made as musician has been tremendous. He deserves and would appreciate any outside opportunity afforded to him.

Frank Zhang Grade 10, Randolph High School – Nominated by David Imhoff Frank is an excellent pianist, who had not played jazz music until last year, his first in high school. He auditioned for the jazz ensemble last year and his audition was stunning. His technical ability on the piano was astounding and over the course of the year he developed into a good jazz player. Frank began studying privately, and came back from summer vacation playing ART TATUM transcriptions. In a short time, Frank has gone from being a good jazz player to an outstanding jazz player.