Students from Morristown High school were honored as MPAC Music Students of the Month – Outstanding Brass Players — at the Sunday, April 28 performance by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. As a special bonus, the students had the opportunity to perform “In the Mood” onstage with the orchestra during the concert in front of approximately 1,200 patrons.
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.
The 2023-2024 Music Student of the Month program is supported by The Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc.
About the April Music Students of the Month (bio supplied their instructor, David Gallagher)
Matthew Bozza: Grade 12; Morristown High School
Matthew is an incredibly talented trumpet player and puts forth his best effort in all of his ensembles. He is currently the Trumpet Captain for Marching Band, Principal Player for Wind Ensemble, and Lead Trumpet for the Spectrum Jazz Ensemble. Additionally Matthew has played numerous times with our high school orchestra, pit orchestras, and spent the summer performing with the Essex County Summer Players Orchestra.
Elias Diringer: Grade 11; Morristown High School
Eli is an incredibly hard worker and demonstrates tremendous prowess with the saxophone through his creative solos. He can play all of the saxophones, flute, and even plays oboe and English Horn in our school pit orchestra.
Garrett Gregor: Grade 10; Morristown High School
Garret has taken on tremendous musical responsibilities this year performing with the jazz band, wind ensemble, marching band, and pit orchestra. He is a very strong trumpet player and takes pride in the process of learning. He is a great role model and leads by example as he looks to take on more challenges and leadership roles in our ensembles.
Pedro Guillen: Grade 12; Morristown High School
Pedro is an all-around outstanding musician and incredible young man. He exudes all of the qualities that you want in an upperclassman as he performs his music at the highest level, mentors younger students, and serves as a role model for his peers. He is the low brass captain in Marching Band, Principal Trombone in Wind Ensemble, and he also plays with the jazz band and pit orchestra. In all of these activities Pedro is a dependable musician but more importantly is a natural leader and works to make each group the best it can be.
Vivienne MacBain: Grade 9; Morristown High School
Viv’s musicianship is incredibly impressive for only being a freshman. She is one of the hardest workers in the school and never stops trying to improve. In addition to being a major part of the jazz band she is also the drummer for our pit orchestra and plays flute in the symphonic band.
Robert McLaughlin: Grade 10; Morristown High School
Bobby has taken on more and more musical responsibilities this year performing in the wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band, and middle school pit orchestra. Playing in the middle school pit orchestra Bobby served as a mentor to the younger students and helped teach the next generation of musicians. He is a very strong player whose sound is noted in every ensemble that he plays in.
Audrey Miller: Grade 10; Morristown High School
Audrey has one of the biggest sounds on trumpet that I have ever heard. She is an incredibly hard worker and always works to make her section the best that it can be. In both marching band and jazz band Audrey is an incredibly thoughtful student.
Jayden Oakley: Grade 9; Morristown High School
Music is Jayden’s strongest suit. He can always be found in the band room putting in extra time and effort to make his saxophone playing the best that it can be. He played in the Intermediate Region Jazz Band last year and this year was selected for the Intermediate Region Concert Band.
Aidan Orbeta: Grade 11; Morristown High School
Aidan is an all-around remarkable musician playing a variety of instruments at a high level. However, he truly shines any time that he plays drums. Whether he is playing with the wind ensemble, jazz band, pit orchestra, or marching band Aidan’s musicality rivals that of professional musicians. In marching band, Aidan is one of the drumline captains and it is truly like having another staff member. He works tirelessly with his peers helping them to be the best versions of themselves and hone in on their individual technique. Aidan also wrote all of the music for the drumline this year. It is hard to believe sometimes that he is only a junior and his musical talents, as well as his leadership and dedication, will only continue to flourish in the coming years.
Kate Trabachino: Grade 9; Morristown High School
As a freshman Kate participates in every ensemble available to her at Morristown High School. She is currently the principal player in our Symphonic Band and is an incredible leader, working with students of varying skill levels. She is also learning Euphonium to play along with our Wind Ensemble. She is an exceptionally talented trumpet player and played with the North Jersey Area Band this year as well.
Nathanael Varghese: Grade 11; Morristown High School
Nate is an all-around remarkable musician demonstrating tremendous talent on trumpet, as well as through singing. He plays trumpet in the wind ensemble, jazz band, and marching band but also finds time to sing at the highest level. Nate was selected for the All State Choir this past year and continues to improve his musicianship every single. day.
Henry Yip: Grade 10; Morristown High School
Listening to Henry play you would never guess that he is only a sophomore. On baritone sax he is the foundation of the sax section and gives his instrument a voice that few students can. His solos are on another level and he is always seeking to improve musically.
For more information on Music Student of the Month, click here.
About MPAC
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 2023-2024 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, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. 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.
