Victor Rosado
Staff Writer
The Connecticut Music Educators’ Association hosted the Southern Region Honors Music festival on January 8 and 9 2016 at Middletown High School. Students worked all year round and were selected after auditioning in November. The audition process required students to prepare an assigned solo, scales, and sight read. Over 1,000 students auditioned this year. There is a concert band, chorus, jazz ensemble and orchestra. Students had the opportunity to collaborate and perform with top musicians from throughout the Southern Region and work with college level conductors. Mr. James E. Jackson, III, the Associate Director of Bands at The Hartt School of Music conducted the concert band and Dr. Kevin Isaacs, the Choral Director from the Western Connecticut State University will be conducting the choir. Lindsey Carlson is a representative of our school, chosen as an alto singer. She said “I was so excited to perform with the best in the region and learn from the new college level conductor”. Many of the representatives for our school are well known for amazing skills in their positions in band or choir and hoped to advance those skills at the music festival. Lyric McVoy who is a senior trumpet said that she was “most excited about being able to experience music in a new atmosphere. Music is one of the most important parts of my life, and regional auditions are another way for me to grow as a musician.”
Foran was represented by fifteen students in this year’s festival.
Representing the Band:
Katherine Buckheit, Senior, Bassoon
Chris Petrucelli, Junior, Bass Clarinet
Jon Elmer, Junior, Baritone Saxophone (was also accepted on Tenor Saxophone)
Meredith Fucci, freshman, French Horn
Zinnia Hall, Junior, Trumpet
Lyric McVoy, Senior, Trumpet
Jon Carpenter, Junior, Bass Trombone
Representing the Choir:
Lindsey Carlson, Senior, Alto
Nick Dana, Senior, Bass
Phoebe Collins, Senior, Alto
Nicolette Simone, Junior, Tenor
Kaylee Jamieson, Junior, Soprano
Sam Martinez, Senior, Soprano
Ashlin Casey, Junior, Alto