MORRISTOWN — Students from Parsippany, Boonton, Kinnelon, Randolph, Mt. Olive, Butler, Roxbury, Mendham and Chester were honored as Mayo Performing Arts Center’s November Music Students of the Month – Outstanding Brass Players — prior to the Monday, November 26 performance by The Canadian Brass.
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 2018-2019 Music Student of the Month program is supported by The Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc.
Music Students of the Month are:
Nathan Lee
Grade 7, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Joseph Stella
Nathan is a focused and committed trumpet player who has been an asset to the Brooklawn Middle School Band Program since he arrived in 6th grade. He is curious, read to learn, and always eager to volunteer for extra music responsibilities. In addition to performing with the regular school band, Nathan has been a member of jazz band and pit band for the school musical. He was selected to participate in the NJSMA Elementary Honors Band last year as a 6th grader, and is planning to audition for the Jr. Region Band this year. As talented as Nathan is, he is also kind, helpful, and always willing to encourage his fellow trumpet players. It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with this fine musician.
Andrew Lie
Grade 12, Parsippany High School; Parsippany; Nominated by Gregory Dalakian
Andrew has participated in every facet of our Music Department during his time at PHS. Since his freshman year, he has always had an interest in helping the band in whatever are was needed. He learned how to play the Mellophone for Marching Band to add more brass to the field. Then he learned how to play the French Horn in Wind Ensemble when we were lacking that particular instrument. Since then, he has truly excelled as a brass player and has become a great horn player. Andrew is always willing to go above and beyond to help the PHS Department and is very deserving of this honor.
Aaron Caso
Grade 8, Rockaway Valley School; Boonton; Nominated by Nicole Covart
Aaron’s musical journey began in 4th grade on the trombone, but he switched to trumpet at the beginning of 5th grade. From that point on there was no stopping him. He even accompanied his 6th grade classmates at their DARE graduation after learning the music by ear. Last year, in 7th grade he participated in the North Jersey Junior Area Band and earned the 6th seat out of 12 trumpets, even though it was his first time auditioning for the honors band. This year he is preparing for the NJAB audition and has also decided to try out for North Jersey Regions Band and Jazz honors band. Currently, he performs in three community bands outside of school alongside high school students and adults
Peter Davin
Grade 12, Kinnelon High School; Kinnelon; Nominated by Ryan Stroud
Peter has been in both North Jersey Area Band and Region 1 Band since his Freshman year in High School. His work ethic and dedication to playing his instrument is really second to none. He’s constantly practicing and looking for ways to improve. His talent isn’t limited to just the horn, either. He’s a very good flute player and vocalists as well. Peter has always brought an exceptional attitude to the classroom every day, and his efforts in class are greatly appreciated by his teachers and peers. He will be missed when he moves on to college, but we know music will always hold an important part in his life!
Josh Freiheiter
Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Randolph; Nominated by Tom Davidson
Josh is an 8th grade honor roll student at Randolph Middle School. He has been playing the trumpet for the past 4 years in the Randolph band program. In addition to his involvement in concert band, he has been a member of the RMS Jazz Ensemble for the past two years. He was nominated by the RMS Band Staff to participate in the North Jersey Jr. Area Band. In addition to studying privately on the trumpet, he has also studied piano for the past seven years.
Mohammed Hamed
Grade 12, Mount Olive High School; Budd Lake; Nominated by Darrell Hendricks
Mohammed Hamed is a senior tuba student at Mount Olive High School and is extremely active in our music program both on stage and off. Mohammed is a member of our Honors Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Student director and member of Jazz Ensemble and contributes to several other ensembles and clubs at the School.
Jacob Jennings
Grade 8, John Hill School; Boonton; Nominated by Yvonne Manca
Jacob has been playing trumpet since 4th grade. He is exceptionally talented and is an asset to the music program. Jacob is not only involved in the school band but plays the trumpet outside school in the town band Harmony. He takes private lessons as well to enhance his musical ability. Jacob shows up to band with great enthusiasm and never misses a practice. He has great range and plays the first trumpet part in the band.
Madison Malone
Grade 8, Richard Butler School; Butler; Nominated by Lyn Lowndes
Madison is in the eighth grade at the Richard Butler School and has played the trumpet for the last for years in our concert band and been in the jazz band for the last two. Madison has brown as a musician, and has matured into a nice young adult.
Emma McDonald
Grade 12, Roxbury High School; Roxbury; Nominated by Jeffery Conrad
Emma is the principle trumpet of the Roxbury HS Honors Wind Symphony and has been since her Junior year. She is a student leader in our marching band program and has been a soloist in the marching, concert and jazz venues. She is extremely active within the Roxbury band program, but is also a member of the NJ Youth Symphony and was also a member of the Region I band. This past summer, Emma participated in the Eastman School of Music Trumpet Symposium. Simply put, Emma is a great young musician, and more importantly an amazing young woman and an important member of our band community.
Daniel Mills
Grade 12, Mendham High School; Mendham; Nominated by Tim Beadle
Dan Mills is of course a fin French horn player who has worked very hard to improve over the last four years. He has carried our mellophone section in marching band, led our symphonic band and advanced wind ensemble, organized our brass ensemble and even played trumpet in our big band. But what makes Dan even more valuable to the band program is his seemingly unending enthusiasm for music, music tech, and music performance. Dan is always the heart and soul of the ensemble whether it is a few students reading quintets after school or a hundred standing on a marching field.
Patrick Rooney
Grade 8, Mountain View School; Mendham; Nominated by Leigh Carpenter
Patrick has such a passion for playing the trumpet. His is proactive in asking for help when he has challenges in learning or understanding. He looks up new things to learn and comes in to class asking to work on increasingly complex music. He is an excellent peer leader. He leads by example. Patrick comes into class positively and inspires other students to want to learn. He also leads by action. When students get off task he takes it upon himself to help refocus them. Patrick’s maturity to pursue what he values and to be a wonderful influence on his peers is admirable. He is a wonderful young man of character deserves this honor.
Sydney Pappas
Grade 8, Black River Middle School; Chester; Nominated by Kenneth Piascik
Sydney Pappas is the definition of a well-rounded, dedicated, and talented musician. Sydney joined the music program with her trumpet in 6th grade and has never stopped growing as a musician, person, and leader over the past three years. Her journey includes performing in every regular and honors ensemble offered at the school, advancing to one of the highest members of the “Music Level Program” and mentoring our younger 6th grade students. Her leadership skills also extend to her membership in the “Musician’s Round Table” where the top players in the band discuss how we can improve our instrumental program. Her positive attitude radiates to the other players and inspires the band to perform at higher levels.
Ryan Parichuk
Grade 8, Mount Olive Middle School; Chester; Nominated by Melany McQueeny
Ryan is a member of the eighth grade band at Mount Olive Middle School. Ryan learns his music right away and is always prepared for band and lessons. There has never been a piece of music put in front of him that he cannot play. Ryan also takes private lessons outside of school. Ryan is also a member of our Jazz Band and Junior Winds group. Both of these after-school ensembles are audition only. He is also a member of our high school’s big band and jazz ensemble. Ryan is also a model student who succeeds in his other academic classes as well and has been a member of North Jersey Area Band for two years.
Mitchell Polevoy
Grade 12, Kinnelon High School; Kinnelon; Nominated by Ryan Stroud
Mitchell has been in the North Jersey Area Band and Region I Band since his Freshman year. Mitch studies privately on trombone and is an excellent player who’s been first chair since he came into Kinnelon High School. Mitch is also a multi-instrumentalist, excelling on keyboards and drums as well as having a keen ear for recording and composting his own music. Mitch is currently also enrolled in Kinnelon’s AP Music Theory class, and we’re lucky to witness his creativity and good sense of humor on a daily basis.
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 2018-2019 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.
Picture: Front Row: Madison Malone, Grade 8, Richard Butler School; Butler; Nominated by Lyn Lowndes; Josh Freiheiter, Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Randolph; Nominated by Tom Davidson; Jacob Jennings, Grade 8, John Hill School; Boonton; Nominated by Yvonne Manca; Nathan Lee, Grade 7, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany, Nominated by Joseph Stella; Sydney Pappas, Grade 8, Black River Middle School; Chester; Nominated by Kenneth Piascik; Emma McDonald, Grade 12, Roxbury High School; Roxbury; Nominated by Jeffery Conrad. Second Row: Daniel Mills, Grade 12, Mendham High School; Mendham; Nominated by Tim Beadle; Andrew Lie, Grade 12, Parsippany High School; Parsippany; Nominated by Gregory Dalakian; Ryan Parichuk, Grade 8, Mount Olive Middle School; Chester; Nominated by Melany McQueeny; Alex Yip, Grade 10, Morristown High School; Morristown; Nominated by Michael Russo. Third Row: Aaron Caso, Grade 8, Rockaway Valley School; Boonton Township; Nominated by Nicole Covart; Patrick Rooney, Grade 8, Mountain View School; Mendham; Nominated by Leigh Carpenter; Mitchell Polevoy, Grade 12, Kinnelon High School; Kinnelon; Nominated by Ryan Stroud.
