3 Samohi Students Selected to All-National Honor Ensembles

Three Santa Monica High School music students hit a high note when after years of dedicated practice and passion, they were selected from among thousands of students nationwide to perform with the 2015 National Association for Music Education All-National Honor Ensembles.

Amy Amatya, Jack Antich and Glennon Davalos-Stanton joined 673 exceptional high schoolers from across the nation in one four NAFME ensembles.

The concert band and symphony orchestra each has approximately 150 instrumentalists, the jazz ensemble has 20 instrumentalists, and the mixed chorus has approximately 350 vocalists.

Amatya, who plays violin and Antich, who plays double bass, were selected to perform with the symphony orchestra. Davalos-Stanton, who plays the trombone, was chosen to play with the jazz ensemble.

“The Santa Monica High School Music Department is extremely proud of Amy Amatya, Jack Antich and Glennon Davalos-Stanton for successfully auditioning to be part of the All-National Honor Ensembles’ symphony orchestra and jazz ensembles,” Joni Swenson, Samohi director of orchestras, said. “High school musicians from throughout the country sent in audition recordings for consideration, and it is an honor that three Samohi students were selected to be a part of these prestigious ensembles.”

During the 2014-15 school year, talented music students across the United States and overseas in military-base schools practiced with dedication to gain a chair or part in their local, district, and state music honor ensembles. And, of those most elite high school musicians who were accepted to their district or All-State music ensembles, 673 of them -- the “best of the best” -- were selected. Applications are now posted for 2016.

“What a tremendous honor for these talented students and what great news for our community,” SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyons said. “We congratulate Amy, Jack and Glennon on the prestigious honor and for exemplifying just how committed our students are to arts education.”

--News release from Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District