Outstanding Band Members

at it until she gets it. I cannot think of a better band student to represent Frelinghuysen Middle School for Music Student of the Month!

Everett Palumbo (Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Morristown; Nominated by Tom Davidson)

Everett is consistently prepared for band rehearsals, and he serves as a musical leader for others in his section. In 7th grade, Everett auditioned for the RMS Jazz Ensemble and made the cut. Everett found that he really loved playing jazz music and liked the style and flow of it. Everett is now in 8th grade, and has successfully auditioned into the RMS Jazz Ensemble again. He had a solo in the annual Randolph Jazz Coffee House performance earlier this year. Everett is looking forward to continuing his saxophone career next year with RHS and their outstanding music ensembles. Everett loves listening to his favorite band, The Dave Matthews Band, due to their amazing saxophonist Jeff Coffin. In addition to playing music, Everett is a multi-sport student athlete, playing lacrosse, ice hockey, and soccer for Randolph. Lacrosse is Everett’s main sport; he plays on four different teams throughout the year: Randolph Recreation Lacrosse, STEPS Elite Lacrosse Club, 1More Lacrosse Select Team, and NJ Sixers Box Lacrosse Club. Everett has been chosen as the captain of his Randolph Lacrosse team this year, hoping to lead them to a championship. Even when playing sports, music helps Everett prepare for his games and helps him celebrate his achievements afterwards. Everett is an honor student and enrolled in all honors classes.

Natalie Roszkowski (Grade 8, Richard Butler Middle School; Butler; Nominated by Lyn Lowndes)

It is my great privilege to recommend Natalie Roszkowski for “Outstanding Band Member." I have known Natalie since September 2018, when she joined the Richard Butler Middle School Band. Throughout the time that I have been teaching Natalie, I have found her to be a hard worker that cares about her school band, practices her clarinet, works diligently on academics, and is kind to her peers. Natalie participates in the Concert Band, Jazz Band and has successfully auditioned on clarinet for and performed with the North Jersey Junior Area Band in both 2022, and 2023. She is also an active member of the local Girl Scout Troop in the Butler/Bloomingdale area. Natalie asks questions, takes advice and is passionate about music. She works well with her classmates, and helps them when needed.

Benjamin Sebiri (Grade 12, Morristown High School; Morristown; Nominated by David Gallagher)

Ben is the principal horn player for the Morristown High School Wind Ensemble. Throughout the year Ben has had numerous solos and exposed passages in his music and he has risen to the occasion time and time again. Ben was originally a saxophone player but took up the French Horn in high school to help the band and you would never know that it was not his primary instrument. Ben also played for both our middle school and high school pit orchestras this year. He is an incredible musician who works as a terrific leader for his section and I am so proud to have taught him these past seven years.

Sri Naranjan Gandhirajan Shivakkumar

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

Sri is one of the top musicians in our 8th grade band. He was originally a clarinetist, but when asked to help fill in a need for an oboe player last year, he rose to the occasion and began practicing even more to get very proficient on this new instrument. Although he is now playing oboe in our concert band, he still auditioned successfully into this yearʼs Intermediate Region Band on the clarinet. He can often be found around the band room practicing during lunch. This year, he has even taken on the additional challenge of learning to play the tenor saxophone for our schoolʼs jazz band and the English horn for our school musical. He is already excelling at both of those new instruments. Besides being a great musician, he is kind, respectful and a joy to teach. Sri is a fitting recipient of the Outstanding Band Member recognition.