MS Jazz Ensembles wins 1st place

The Middle School Advanced Jazz Band, directed by Music teacher Jesse Tennyson, won first place at the Music in the Parks Festival at Six Flags Great Adventure on Saturday, May 12 and the Middle School Beginning Jazz Band followed on Saturday, May 19 with another first place. "Our kids represented FA well with their maturity, character and musicianship," said Tennyson.

Peter Duke, 8th grade, won the award for "Best Instrumental Soloist" at the May 12th festival, an honor he earned last year as well.

At the May 19th festival, sixth grader Eman Zeitlin won the individual award for "Best Instrumental Soloist" for the entire festival, while the rest of the jazz band scored an excellent rating and won 1st place in their division.

Beginning Jazz Band members:

Clarinets

Meron Ippolito
Courtney Taylor

Alto Sax
EJ Kim

Tenor Sax
Sam Mufson

Trumpet
Bobby Carroll

Trombone
Christian Del Vechio

Guitars
Betty Pakh
Anna Pappas
Matthew Kaplan
Eman Zeitlin

Bass
Ben Balser

Drums
Max Miller
Andrew Becker
Stephen Papoola

Piano
Kayla Koroma
Leila Scanlon

Advanced Jazz Band:

Alto Saxes
Arman Kibria
Noah Lopez

Tenor Sax
Danny McCooey

Trumpets
Harry Nichols
Steven Graham

Trombone
Peter Duke

Bass
Lexie Leeser
Will Schneider

Guitar
Sarah Richter

Piano
Dennis Lin
Amber Broder

Drums
Lauren Russell