Schools
Holmdel Symphony Band Plays Beautifully at Festival
The 50-member band received four awards at the The Central Jersey Music Educators Association's 15th Annual State Concert Band Festival.
The Holmdel Symphony Band won several awards from the Central Jersey Music Educators Association, in the Region II Concert Band Festival.
Nearly 30 high school band ensembles competed in the 15th annual CJMEA festival held March 21-23 at South Brunswick High School. Each band was allowed 20 minutes to perform two pieces. CJMEA provides the festival to foster and promote growth of music programs.
The CJMEA Region II of the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) consists of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties. This non-profit organization assists music teachers in raising the caliber of music performance and the quality of music education in their schools.
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Three judges holding local and national recognition awarded prizes for overall performance at bronze, silver or gold level. The judges awarded trophies to the best percussion section and best woodwind section and individual trophies to three students that were selected for best musicianship for their solo performances.
Holmdel’s Symphony Band, consisting of more than 50 student musicians and led by John Koryat, performed superbly, winning four awards. Holmdel achieved Gold level award for overall performance; best woodwind section, and two best musicianship awards – to Tiffany Huang for her oboe solo and to Jessica Chang for her trumpet solo. It was the first time in 3 years of competing that the CJMEA judges awarded Holmdel with their highest level of gold performance.
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The Holmdel players first performed the patriotic Variations on “America” by Charles Ives. Their final selection, Give Us This Day by David Maslanka, was a powerful piece with difficult passages, accented with piano arpeggios and woodwind trills. The masterly performance by the Holmdel students stunned the audience!
Give credit to the students in the band, for dedicated practicing and for giving up their afternoon and evenings to perform and compete. And give credit to band director John Koryat, who said “I do it because it’s good for the kids.”
