13 Coventry HS Students Selected For All-State Music Festival

COVENTRY, RI — Thirteen Coventry High School students were selected to be a part of this year's all-state music festival, one of the most rigorous, selective programs in the state for young musicians. Eight band and five chorus members made the cut and will perform with their talented peers in March.

"I'm very proud of them," said Bill Smith, who has served as the band director at CHS for more than 30 years. "It's all based on their individual work. People congratulate me, but all I do is register and encourage them. The rest is based on their individual work."

The All-State Band Festival, run by the Rhode Island Music Education Association, requires a rigorous audition and practice schedule. In November, students performed one-on-one at Moses Brown School in Providence, required to play a difficult, practiced piece, sight-read music they had never played before and perform various scales.

"It's all about work ethic," Smith said, adding that some students began practicing their audition pieces as early as over the summer.

"[The festival] gives the students a chance to develop better skills. It's close to what it's like to be a professional," Smith continued.

The students begin rehearsals next week, culminating with three days of all-day, intensive rehearsals ahead of the final performances.

The junior and senior division jazz ensembles will perform at 7 p.m. on March 11 at the University of Rhode Island. The remaining ensembles, including choruses, orchestras and bands, will perform at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium on March 15.

The following students were selected for the program:

Band

• Ana Avjian, senior: Senior Division All-State Band, bass clarinet
• Blake Fraatz, senior: Senior Division All-State Band, trumpet
• Ian Jacobs, freshman: Junior Jazz Ensemble, tenor saxophone
• Nick Kanaczet, junior: Senior Division All-State Band, trombone
• Jason Noel, freshman: Junior Division All-State Band, trombone
• Grace Petrarca, sophomore: Senior Division All-State Band, flute
• Loren Vaughn, senior: Senior Division All-State Band, trombone
• Sam Webster, senior: Senior Division All-State Band, baritone horn

Choir

• Margaret Brietzke, senior: Senior Division All-State Mixed Choir
• Jessica Gannon, senior: Senior All-State Treble Choir
• Megan Hebert, sophomore: Senior Division All-State Mixed Choir
• Jonathan Kenney, sophomore: Senior Division All-State Mixed Choir
• Adam Lamy, sophomore: Senior Division All-State Mixed Choir