Westfield High School District band and choral students. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – A group of Westfield High School band and choral students qualified for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Senior Districts this year, many of them, including all jazz band members, receiving All-State recommendations.
Earning spots were: Samantha Adamtsev, Grade 9, Band, Tuba – All State Rec
Anton Bonacci, Grade 9, Jazz Ensemble, Bass – All State Rec
Steven Bonacci, Grade 11, Jazz Ensemble, Tenor 1 – All State Rec
Hannah Bruno, Grade 11, Chorus, Soprano – All State Rec
Melissa Doiron, Grade 12, Chorus, Alto
Samir Ghalayini, Grade 12, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone 1 – All State Rec
Stefan Guretskiy, Grade 10, Orchestra, Violin 1 – All State Rec
Hadleigh Leclair, Grade 12, Band, Trumpet 3
Pratham Makonahally, Grade 10, Chorus, Bass -All State Rec
Matt Morash, Grade 12, Band, Bass Clarinet
Aaron Muldrew, Grade 12, Band – F Horn 4
Jay Scherpa, Grade 10, Orchestra, Bass Trombone – All State Rec
Kyle Scherpa, Grade 10, Band, F Horn 1 – All State Rec
Anita Silvia, Grade 11, Chorus, Alto
Troy Stucenski, Grade 11, Chorus, Tenor – All State Rec
Sophia Taglieri, Grade 12, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone 2 -All State Rec
Caitlynn Thomson, Grade 11, Band, Flute 1 – All State Rec
“I’m glad so many kids I encouraged to do it tried out. I’m proud of all the kids, made it or not. It makes them a stronger musician, and they bring it back here,” said WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy.
Kennedy’s students also see the value in playing in the district bands, which will perform at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst Jan. 12.
Senior Sophia Taglieri, who will play trombone in the district jazz band and who received an All-State recommendation, said this was her third time trying out, but first time succeeding. In the meantime, she switched from flute to trombone at Kennedy’s suggestion in order to join the WHS Jazz Band, after falling in love with jazz. “Being rejected made me work harder,” Taglieri said.
Junior Caitlynn Thomson, who received the highest district score for baritone saxophone two years in a row, tried out for the District Concert Band with her flute this year, also earning an All-State recommendation.
“This is a strong group of musicians,” Kennedy said.
Senior Matthew Morash, who will play bass clarinet in the Concert Band, said he got in last year when they had a shortage of bass clarinets, and tried out again and earned a spot this year. “I thought it was such a fun experience,” Morash said.
“Districts are a great opportunity to become better musicians and get to know people,” said senior trumpet player Hadleigh Leclair, who will be going to her sixth district concert, including junior districts. “I’ve made so many friends.”
Senior Aaron Muldrew, who plays French horn for the Concert Band, will also be going to his sixth districts this year. “I think it’s a really cool chance to play with other bands with all of the instruments, where everyone wants to be there. It’s such a rich sound,” Muldrew said.
WHS Choral Director Korey Bruno said five out of the five students she recommended to try out made districts this year, and three of them earned All-State recommendations.
Both she and Kennedy said the choral tryouts are highly competitive.
“The kids work really hard right from the beginning of the year,” said Bruno, practicing on sight singing skills, reading music without pitches. At district tryouts, choral students sang their part as solos on “The Nightingale,” by Felix Mendelssohn.
Bruno said out of a possible score of 120, most of her kids were above 100, including junior soprano Hannah Bruno, who scored 117. Cutoff for sopranos was 114. “It was stressful,” Hannah said.
Hannah and Korey Bruno., (Photo by Amy Porter)
Hannah Bruno is Korey Bruno’s sixth and last child, all of whom were in the chorus at WHS. Like her sister Karina, who graduated last year, she hopes to attend Westminster Choir College, Korey Bruno’s Alma Mater.
“All of the students who made it into districts are in the show choir,” Korey Bruno said. “They’re a fantastic group of young men and women.”
At the All-State tryouts, which are highly competitive, according to both directors, students will have the opportunity to audition for the MMEA All State Festival Concert scheduled for March 7 at Boston Symphony Hall.
Last year, Hannah Bruno and sophomore Jay Scherpa, who will play bass trombone for the District Orchestra this year, both performed at the All-State Festival.
