The Cherokee High School Instrumental Music Department directors and administration sponsored the participation of twenty instrumental music students for the 74th annual All South Jersey Region III Band and Orchestra auditions at Absegami High School in Galloway, NJ on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The audition process starts long before the actual audition day. Students, their directors,
and their private instructors began studying the audition requirements for his/her specific
instrument several months ahead of time. The students, with the help and direction of Mr.
D. Michael Lynch, band director, spent countless hours learning, practicing and perfecting
each aspect of the audition.
Each student is required to perform all 12 major scales and/or selected percussive rudiments, a chromatic scale, two selected solo excerpts and a challenging short piece that will be sight-read on the day of the audition. In preparation for the audition, the students met with their directors and participated in mock auditions. These mock auditions gave each student the opportunity to work out nerves by performing for their peers, and also an opportunity to share tactics, strategies and past experiences with each auditioning participant.
The directors and music parents of the Cherokee Instrumental Music Department are very proud of each auditioning student. Although not every student is accepted into a performing honors ensemble, the experience gained through the audition process is guaranteed to provide heightened skills in musicianship and invaluable life lessons. The audition results are listed below:
All South Jersey Wind Ensemble
Alexis Cherby – Second Chair; Bassoon
Jihyung Kim – Eighth Chair; Bb Clarinet
All South Jersey Symphonic Band
Anton Smolyanyy – Fourth Chair; Bassoon
Hailey Goffin – Sixth Chair; Bb Clarinet
Alex Caron – First Chair; Contra Clarinet
Brooke Shapiro – Second Chair; Alto Sax
Aiden Baxter – Fifth Chair; F-Horn
Dana DiCostanzo – Eighth Chair; F-Horn
Javid Labenski – First Chair; Trombone
Ryan Block – Fourth Chair; Tuba
Ryan Jones – First Chair; Battery Perc.
All South Jersey Chamber Ensemble
Jihyung Kim – Bb Clarinet
All South Jersey Orchestra
Eric Lin – Third Chair; Cello
Yat Wang – Eighth Chair; Cello
Alexis Cherby – Second Chair; Bassoon
2020 Upcoming performance dates/times
Jan. 5; 3 p.m. at Rowan University (HS Orchestra and Jr. High Strings Concert)
Jan. 12; 3 p.m. at Rowan University (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band Concert)
Feb. 4; 7:30 p.m. at Penns Grove High School (Chamber Ensemble Concert)
