Outstanding Pianists

Farren Bowers

Grade 12, Kinnelon High School; Kinnelon; Nominated by Ryan Stroud

Farren is a senior here at Kinnelon HS. They have been part of our music program since day one of their high school career. Farren has played clarinet in our Wind Ensemble and Pep Band, but has played Piano in our Pit Orchestra and our Jazz Band. They are one of the most dedicated and reliable musicians that has ever come through our program. Iʼm so grateful to have Farren in our various music programs, and theyʼve done an incredible job in increasing the talent level in all of our groups.

Ojas Kulkarni

Grade 8, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Joseph Stella

Ojas is an 8th grade pianist who has successfully auditioned into our schoolʼs jazz band as well as the pit orchestra for this year's musical “Cinderella.” In addition to being a very fine musician, he is polite, respectful and easy to work with. Ojas would be a fitting recipient of the Outstanding Pianist recognition.

Nathan Li

Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Randolph; Nominated by Tom Davidson & Genevieve Sallemi

Nathan Li is 14 years old and in the eighth grade at Randolph Middle School (RMS). At RMS, he is a member of the RMS Jazz Ensemble, RMS 8th Grade Orchestra, and RMS Con Brio Select Orchestra. Nathan plays the piano for all three ensembles as well as the cello for Con Brio and 8th Grade Orchestra. Nathan has enjoyed the opportunities to play varied styles of music on the piano within the RMS Music Program. His jazz ensemble director and orchestra director appreciate that Nathan always comes prepared to RMS music rehearsals having prepared his piano music outside of school. This is one of the characteristics that contributes to Nathan acting as a leader within his school music ensembles. Nathan took his first piano lesson when he was just in the first grade, and he started playing the cello at in fourth grade. Since then, he has partaken in the orchestral groups in fifth grade and throughout middle school. Some other extracurricular activities and groups that Nathan has or currently participates in include Model U.N., Math Counts, and Boy Scouts. Model U.N. is an event where students from schools in northern New Jersey gather to draft solutions to modern problems that are