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BMS student Jonah Decaria named Music Student of the Month

MPAC Music Students of the Month

PARSIPPANY — Students from Parsippany, Randolph, Morristown, Kinnelon, Mendham, Boonton, New Vernon, and Roxbury were honored as Mayo Performing Arts Center’s Music Students of the Month – Outstanding Pianists — prior to the Thursday, February 1 performance of Piano Battle.

The students were recognized for their achievements on stage prior to the concert and had the opportunity to meet the performers.

Students were nominated by their teachers and were chosen by the Theatre’s Education Department based on their commitment to and excellence in the performing arts. The Theatre will honor a group of students every month throughout the season and invites area teachers to nominate students for this honor. Students will be invited to perform at a year-end recital in June.

The 2017-2018 Music Student of the Month program is supported by The Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc.

Music Students of the Month are:

Jonah Decaria
Grade 7, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Joseph Stella Jonah has been selected by audition to be the pianist in our school’s jazz band for the past two years.  He is a great musician all around and also plays percussion in our 7th grade concert band.

Steven Alt
Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Randolph; Nominated by Kristen Siebenhuhner Steven Alt began playing the piano in first grade and plays a variety of music genres.  He successfully auditioned annually on piano for the award-winning Randolph Middle School’s Select Jazz Ensemble for the past three years and composed a solo in 2017 for the song “Al blues” by Miles Davis.  He also accompanied the Randolph Middle School Orchestra on “Silent Night” at the 2016 Holiday Concert.  Steven is a member of the St. Matthews Choir as a piano and viola accompanist.  He regularly performs at The Piano Workshop’s recitals where he has been studying piano with Dorian Morales since 2010.  Steven also has attended summer music camps at The Piano Workshop, focusing on Garage Band and original piano compositions.  He has been a member of the Brookside Community Orchestra for the past three summers and attended the Randolph Schools Strings Summer Program.  

David Giambra
Grade 12, Jefferson Township High School; Oak Ridge; Nominated by James Wynne David began playing as a freshman in music technology class and took to the piano so well that he is now planning to major in music education in college.  He is just about to audition on piano for his college music department acceptance.  He is a dedicated musician and deserving of outstanding pianist.

Jasmine “Jazzy” Meyer
Grade 9, Mendham High School; Mendham; Nominated by Patricia Danner Jazzy is a freshman at Mendham High School and in a few short months has already had a major impact on our program in a positive way.  She participates in the band and chorus, and is a very skilled piano player.  In addition to singing in the choir and playing the flute in the band, Jazzy plays piano in our top Jazz Ensemble.  Jazzy is primarily a classical pianist, but has been attending workshops during lunch to learn more about the jazz style.  She is a student who truly loves to learn and enjoys a challenge.  Jazzy will also be accompanying the choir in our upcoming performance in February.  Jazzy is a talented young student with a positive attitude, and I am excited to see what she will accomplish over the next four years!

Stefan Nita
Grade 7, Pearl R. Miller Middle School; Kinnelon; Nominated by Lisa Wichman Stefan began studying piano and classical music at age five with Andrew Schwarz.  He life dream is to compose music for movies and video-games, write comic books and teach music.  Stefan has shared his musical talent at recitals and talent shows.   He has been a featured pianist at our PRM Middle School Choir concerts.  A gifted musician, Stefan has perfect pitch, reads music well and can play by ear.  Stefan’s favorite composers include: Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and Schumann.   When I asked Stefan recently what he was currently working on, he shared this with me:  “I’m working on Chopin’s “Petit Chein.” Chopin was one of the greatest pianists of all time. His music impacts me greatly. I can feel all the emotion when I play; I can feel what he felt. It’s so amazing and I am honored to play his music.”

Adam Rack
Grade 12, Hanover Park High School, East Hanover; Nominated by Helen Britez Adam is the pianist for Jazz Ensemble and participates in almost every facet of our Music Department including: Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Men’s Choir, Atlantic City Crew (highly select a cappella group), Pit Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, and AP Music Theory, in addition to performances outside of school.  He is a consummate musician, thoughtful and caring soul, and diligent musician.  He plans to pursue Music Composition next year.

Charles Sagerer
Grade 6, John Hill School, Boonton; Nominated by Yvonne Manca Charles has been taking piano lessons for a few years.  He is an outstanding piano player and plays with precise rhythm and has amazing technical skills.  He has excelled in piano and has no problem reading difficult rhythms.  He enjoys music and has an extensive musical background for a student at such a young age.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2017-2018 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. The Mayo Performing Arts Center has been designated a Major Presenting Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.

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Frank L. Cahill
Frank L. Cahill
Publisher of Parsippany Focus since 1989 and Morris Focus since 2019, both covering a wide range of events. Mr. Cahill serves as the Executive Board Member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, President of Kiwanis Club of Tri-Town and Chairman of Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Advisory Board.
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