Students from Parsippany, Rockaway, Chatham, Morristown and Pompton Plains were honored as MPAC Music Students of the Month – Outstanding Orchestra Members — at the Saturday, September 21 performance by the Buena Vista Social Orchestra.
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 2024-2025 Music Student of the Month program is supported by The Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc.
About the September Music Students of the Month (bio supplied their instruct, David Gallagher)
Harsh Bhalotia
Grade 8, Central Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Darby MacAdams
Harsh is a talented and dedicated student. He always wants to challenge himself by learning new skills and songs. He is also very self-motivated and always asks thoughtful questions. I believe Harsh is well-deserving of this honor.
Marco Cera
Grade 8, Rockaway Valley School; Rockaway; Nominated by Nicole Covart
Marco is a phenomenal violin player that joined the Concert Band in our school as a percussion player. Sadly, our school doesn’t have an orchestra, but he is so determined to be musical, he performs on the mallets. Over the past few years, he has also performed on the violin for a few of our concert pieces. Marco also performs at every Talent show, and blows away the crowd every time with his talent. He is a trailblazer, a super supportive percussionist, and because of him, more students are joining the Concert Band on the violin. We were lucky to have him!
Geoffrey Chen
Grade 7, Chatham Middle School; Chatham; Nominated by Mario DeSantis
Although Geoffrey is only a seventh grade violinist, he’s playing at a level well beyond that of many high school students. Geoffrey is a responsible musician who’s willing to help others and volunteers for extra performance opportunities. In addition to his outrageous talent, his warm and kind personality reinforce the positive culture we value so much in our school. It’s students like Geoffrey who make teaching orchestra such a rewarding experience. Without hesitation, Geoffrey receives my strongest recommendation for this honor
Michelle Lucas-Gomez
Grade 8, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Adam Austerlitz
Michelle is a highly motivated and talented violist. She contributes so much to the orchestra and music department at Brooklawn Middle School. Michelle is a quadruple threat: a tour de force who balances performing principal viola in the Brooklawn Orchestra and Select Strings along with singing, dancing, and acting with the Brooklawn choirs and stage drama and musical productions. Michelle truly has a bright future ahead of her!
Derek Nieto Marquez
Grade 11, Morristown High School; Morristown; Nominated by Norma Davis
Derek Nieto Marquez is an outstanding musician at Morristown High School. His passion for music drives him to explore various composers, artists, and genres both as a listener and as a performer. As a bass player in the MHS Orchestra, Derek is a hard worker who collaborates enthusiastically with his classmates to create artistic performances. He can always be relied upon to participate fully, be attentive to details, and to strive for excellence. Throughout his years at MHS, Derek has been involved in many musical opportunities such as performing on the guitar and singing in the Apollo show, performing a duo at the Solo and Ensemble Night, playing with the Chamber Orchestra, and participating beautifully in many other musical events. His interest in music has also led him to study music theory, compose music, and learn about form and analysis. Derek’s enthusiasm and devotion inspire musical discussions at a deep and mature level. He is a very gifted, engaging, wonderful student and is an absolute joy to have as a member of the MHS Orchestra.
Joyce Noblett
Grade 7, Pequannock Valley School; Pompton Plains; Nominated by Michael Kertesz
Joyce is a hardworking, diligent, and passionate musician who brings an impressive depth of knowledge and enthusiasm to every ensemble in which she participates. Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of watching her grow immensely as a bassist. Her work ethic and positive attitude are infectious, consistently motivating those around her. Joyce’s musicianship continues to elevate the performance level of any group she plays in. In addition to her musical abilities, Joyce has taken on numerous leadership roles in my classroom. She is always willing to assist her peers, often going out of her way to help others improve their skills. Her collaborative nature and readiness to support others have made her an invaluable member of our ensembles. Joyce is more than deserving of this honor as I have no doubt that she will continue to excel and inspire in any musical environment she encounters.
Johana John Peter
Grade 8, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Adam Austerlitz
Johana is a talented and hard-working violinist. She is a highly dedicated musician who takes every performance opportunity presented to her. Whether it is performing principal violin in the Brooklawn Orchestra and Select Strings, performing with the North Jersey Middle School Honors Orchestra, or singing in the Brooklawn Choir, Johana is always up for the challenge. Her dedication to music is inspiring and I am excited to see how far she will go!
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 2024-2025 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.
