Concerts will be in April and May
Cornwall Middle School will be well represented when the Orange County Music Educators Association (OCMEA) Elementary and Junior High Festivals kick off at the end of April and the beginning of May. A total of 25 students have been selected for All-County honors.
“It’s really good and getting better,” said middle school band director Dean Aulogia. “We’re definitely holding our own. It’s very competitive. Some schools don’t get anybody in there. Some districts are well known to be strong in terms of numbers and parental support. I think we’re doing good considering the resources we have.”
In order to be selected for the all-county band, orchestra, chorus, or jazz ensemble, each student must audition before a panel of judges. The audition entailed sight reading (performing a piece they had never seen before), playing a prepared piece, and playing scales. Students have about 30 seconds to a minute to review the sight reading before playing.
“They have to make sure they’re playing in the right key, the right notes, the right rhythm. That’s a make or break thing for a lot of kids,” said Aulogia.
Once selected, each student’s responsibility is to learn four pieces on their own. Aulogia said he and the music staff at the middle school help the kids prepare. Some also have private teachers.
On the weekend of the performance, students will be bused to the host school that Friday afternoon for rehearsal. They’ll return the following morning for more practice ahead of the 2 p.m. concert.
The process requires rigorous practice on the part of the students, who are hailing from all over the county.
“They’re already accomplished kids,” Aulogia said. “That’s what makes them special. It’s basically the best of the best in the county. They’re coming in prepared. The music is more challenging than they would have at their own school because again you have better kids. It’s a good opportunity for kids who want more of a challenge.”
This year’s group of sixth graders auditioned for the first time since the pandemic, despite being the oldest in their group, which is fourth through sixth grade. Yani Daskalis not only made the cut, but he ranked top in his group and had the second highest score for his age group in the county. Benjamin Huang got the highest scores for fourth through sixth graders in Orange County.
The OCMEA Jazz Festival was held the first weekend in March. The Elementary Festival will be held April 29 to 30 and the Junior High Festival the weekend of May 6 and 7.
Cornwall Central Middle School participants include:
OCMEA Jr. High All-County Band
Hudson Alarcon, Andrew Cummiskey, and Owen Wissner
OCMEA Jr. High All-County Orchestra
Abigail Crow and Ealan Roig
OCMEA Jr. High All-County Chorus
Beah Coutant and Fiala Query
OCMEA Jr. High Jazz Ensemble
John Michael Melkon III and Hunter Olsen
OCMEA Elementary Band
Piper Clark, Yani Daskalis, Benjamin Huang, Karlee King
OCMEA Elementary Orchestra
Edylene Goodglass
OCMEA Elementary Chorus
Addison Allen, Brielle Martinez, Shannon Easterlin, Gracie Ryan, Olivia Robertson, Makayla Riccardi, Justin Allen, Levi Polack, Micah Elvie, Emma Vazquez, Sienna Stramiello
