3/3/2022
As we are all too well-aware, the past two school years have been anything but normal for our students, families and educators. One of the most encouraging things we have seen this year is the return of music and art to our classrooms across the district. As our programs have carefully returned to a more normal, pre-pandemic level of operation our students have also begun to audition and participate in honors festivals and exhibits in both music and visual art.
Visual Art
Each year the Scholastic Art Awards recognize young artists at the state, regional and national level for their creativity and their technical skill. Over 7,500 students submitted artwork for consideration in Massachusetts alone this year. We are proud to announce that twenty-four students from Belmont High School were among those selected for awards. Students who earn “Gold Key” awards will have their work exhibited and considered for national recognition in New York City.
Adam Arredouani (Grade 10), Silver Key
Amy Chen (Grade 9), Gold Key
Anya Chen (Grade 11), Gold Key
Brynner Eang (Grade 10), Silver Key
Shani Getz (Grade 12), Gold Key
Will Ingersoll (Grade 11), Silver Key
Lauren Ji (Grade 11), Honorable Mention
Ella Johnson (Grade 12), Gold Key
Rachel Li (Grade 10), Silver Key
Dahlia Liu (Grade 12), Gold Key
Daniel Liu (Grade 9), Honorable Mention
Sophia Liu (Grade 11), Gold Key & Honorable Mention
Mae Pirani (Grade 12), Silver Key
Maya Rodriguez-Clark (Grade 12), Gold Keys (2)
Jiali Shi (Grade 10), Honorable Mention
Joy Son (Grade 9), Gold Key & Silver Keys (2)
Mary Thompson (Grade 12), Honorable Mention
Vivian Weng (Grade 10), Gold Key
Tina Xu (Grade 10), Silver Key
Evan Zhang (Grade 9), Honorable Mention
Anne Zhao (Grade 11), Silver Key
Olivia Zhao (Grade 10), Gold Key & Honorable Mentions (2)
Renee Zhao (Grade 9), Honorable Mention
Serena Zhu (Grade 9), Gold Key
In addition to earning a Gold Key, Maya Rodriguez-Clark was awarded BEST IN CATEGORY (Painting) for her piece, “A New Perspective” (pictured below)
Sophia Liu (Grade 11) earned 1st Place in the UMass-Dartmouth “Emerging Young Artists” competition. She was honored at a reception on campus on January 21 for her piece entitled “Crown” (pictured below)
Music
With the return of live, in-person music to our schools our students have resumed auditioning for honors festivals on the district, state and national levels. The Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Northeastern District operates two festivals each spring - Junior Districts for students in Grade 7-9 (March 23, 25 & 26), and Senior Districts for students in Grades 9-12 (March 19). The following students from Chenery Middle School and Belmont High School have been accepted to perform in the MMEA Northeastern District Junior/Senior Concert Band, Orchestra, Chorus and Jazz Ensembles:
CMS Junior Districts
Calvin Barnes, Chorus
Rohan Bhaqwati, Trombone
Sophia Bufano, Trombone
Brady Chan, Jazz Trumpet
Ivan Chernov, Chorus
Ian Choi, Trumpet
Caroline Didzinski, Bassoon
Samuel Engler, String Bass
Sophia Gottselig, Chorus
Aanya Gupta, Viola
Hank Hicks, Bassoon
Kaanya Jain, Jazz Alto Saxophone
Esther Ji, Violin
Rebecca Knight, Chorus
Brandon Law, Cello
Daphne Lee, Violin
Sunho Lee, Cello
Zoe Lindsey, Chorus
Austin Mann, Chorus
Ali Masoud, Jazz Tenor Saxophone
Stella Ovcharova, Timpani
Ben Palmer, Cello
Ryan Park, Jazz Trumpet
Nathaniel Peck, Violin
Zachary Robbins, Cello
Brook Whalen, Chorus
Aiden Yang, Violin
May Zheng, Chorus
Sophia Zhong, Violin
Elizabeth Zuccarello, Euphonium
BHS Junior Districts
Claire Boyle, Chorus
Parker Brookins, Jazz Trumpet
Mark Chumack, Trumpet
Benjamin Hanna, Alto Saxophone
Sophie Harteveldt, Chorus
Josephine Lamenza, Chorus
Laila Lusis, Trombone
Maya Ramanathan, Violin
Evan Zhang, Clarinet
Serena Zhu, Violin
BHS Senior Districts
Kate Arkin, Oboe
Christopher Bauge, Jazz Baritone Saxophone
Leo Carpenter, Trombone
Aidan Chen, Clarinet
Madeleine Christensen, Chorus
Lincoln Crockett, Chorus
Helena De Figueiredo Valente, Chorus
Luke Fitzpatrick, Trombone
Kathleen Gao, Violin
Nathaniel Gillette, Trumpet
Lydia Haddad, French Horn
Lizandra Hawkinson, Chorus
Jabe Hicks, Alto Saxophone
Tilly Jones, Flute
Daniel Kim, Cello
Meredith Knauff, Cello
Megan Kornberg, Oboe
Bora Kosar, Viola
Sam Kutsman, Clarinet
Priscilla Lee, Violin
Daniel Liu, Violin
Aaron Lubetsky, Jazz Trombone
Jacob Lubetsky, Trumpet
Sam Macchi, String Bass
Julie Meng, Violin
Shanta Pai, String Bass
Shivane Pratap, Tenor Saxophone
Su Min Pyo, Clarinet
Irene Son, Clarinet
Christina Xi, Violin
Michael Xing, Baritone Saxophone
Anthony Zhao, Clarinet
Renee Zhao, Violin
Kenneth Zhou, Tuba
The MMEA All-State Festival honors the most outstanding student-musicians from across Massachusetts. The following BHS students have been accepted to participate in this year’s All-State Festival, and will perform at Symphony Hall in Boston this Saturday, March 5.
Kate Arkin, Oboe
Christopher Bauge, Jazz Baritone Saxophone
Nathaniel Gillette, Trumpet
Lydia Haddad, French Horn
Jabe Hicks, Alto Saxophone
Tilly Jones, Flute
Meredith Knauff, Cello
Megan Kornberg, Oboe
Priscilla Lee, Violin
Aaron Lubetsky, Jazz Trombone
Su Min Pyo, Clarinet
Irene Son, Clarinet
Christina Xi, Violin
Kenneth Zhou, Tuba
Kate Arkin (Grade 12, oboe) was also one of only 533 students nationwide to be selected to perform in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-National Honors Festival. Kate performed in a virtual concert on January 24 and had this to say about her experience:
“Working with Travis Cross [All-National Band conductor] was a really great experience because he was very easy going, but at the same time very obviously passionate about music and conducting us. All of the guest speakers and clinicians seemed like they were genuinely excited to be there, and that excitement was contagious and really helped to foster the overall positive energy of the festival.” BHS Band Director Allison Lacasse states that “Kate’s passion and dedication to playing the oboe beautifully is inspiring. In the past two years, being vulnerable and courageous in performance was even more challenging due to the virtual nature of rehearsing and performing. Kate’s work ethic, along with her positive and goal-oriented personality, allowed her to achieve one of the nation’s top honors.”
Jabe Hicks (Grade 11, alto saxophone), Daniel Zhang (grade 12, tenor saxophone), Lydia Haddad (Grade 12, French Horn), Evan Zhang (Grade 9, clarinet), and Benjamin Hanna (Grade 9, alto saxophone) earned seats in the 2021 Western International Band Clinic honor bands. This festival takes place in Seattle, Washington, and students work under the batons of six celebrated conductors and composers in the band field. Students worked from November 18-21, 2021 in rehearsals and got to take in professional performances by some of the top artists in the world. The clinic culminated with live-streamed performances by the four honor bands featuring the Classical Fusion trio, PROJECT Trio.
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In addition to the numerous students recognized above, there are dozens of other CMS and BHS students who submitted artwork or auditioned for honors festivals and were not accepted this year. It takes a great deal of courage and dedication to go through the submission and audition process, along with hours of preparation and ultimately the vulnerability required to put your work in front of an audience to be judged. We would also like to acknowledge those students who submitted work and were not accepted - some missing by the very narrowest of margins - and encourage them to continue taking the risk of putting their artwork and performances into the world. We are proud of all of you!