Berkley Schools Celebrate Successful Year in Music Education

Berkley Schools have witnessed a phenomenal year in music education.

The student musicians, directors and staff have been honored for their musical performances and overall quality of the music programs in several ways recently. Both brand new recognitions and honors that Berkley schools secure year after year can be found in the long list of 2011-12 accomplishments.

Music education has been a part of the curriculum that Berkley schools have made sure to keep strong, said Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, director of Curriculum, Technology, Assessment and Grants for the .

"Despite very challenging times for K-12 state of Michigan public school budgets, the Berkley School District stays focused on the whole child, preserving our award-winning music programs,” she said after Berkley was honored as a recently.

Berkley Schools' success can be measured on many fronts. Beginning with the most recent honor, here’s a look at the accomplishments of Berkley School District’s music programs, according to the district:

• , a national designation from NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation. Berkley is one of seven school districts in Michigan to receive this award, and one of 176 nationwide.
• Under the direction of Alan Posner, who joined the Berkley School District last fall as band director of the high school and Norup International bands, the Marching Band attended the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Marching Band Festival for the first time and received a second division rating, as did the concert band.
• Berkley High School band students also shined at the MSBOA’s High School State Solo and Ensemble Festival in the spring. Students receiving second division ratings included Sydney Oliva and David Germaine. First division ratings went to Maxwell Gillis, Audrey Pittman, Alissa Rowe, Phil Ring and Nick Rifel, who was also selected to participate in the Michigan Youth Arts Honors Band. The percussion trio of Ryan Levy, Mitchell Hart and Zachary Lask also received a first division rating. The high school jazz ensemble received a superior first division rating in the MSBOA State Jazz Festival. Featured soloists included Nick Rifel, Nolan Young, Phil Ring, Samantha Taub, Max Gillis, Phil Bednarczyk, Ryan Levy, Sydney Oliva and Zac Schildcrout. This was the first first division rating for the Berkley High School Jazz Ensemble.
• The high school orchestra program, under the direction of John Robertson, received first division ratings at the MSBOA Band & Orchestra Festival in March. The Symphony Orchestra (competing at the highest difficulty level of “AA”) earned a first division from all judges for the 10th year in a row.
• Last month, BHS orchestra students attended MSBOA's State Solo & Ensemble Festival. Performing that day were Ashley Strand, Eliisa Strand, Britni Walter, Abbey Tucker, Jennifer Alpert, Noah Duchan, Christina Barna, Lauren Cohen, Ella Schodowski, Corinna Applegate, Matthew Raisky, Kennedy Sawicki, Haley Bennet, Kira Allen, Angelica Pearson, Jacob Duchan and Julia Pompilius. Based on their outstanding results, Pompilius and Duchan were invited to perform with the Michigan Youth Arts Festival orchestra in May.
• In addition to their high school duties, Posner and Robertson also direct the band and orchestra programs, respectively, at Earlier this spring, the seventh-grade band received first division rating at the MSBOA district festival, the first for a Berkley middle school this century. The eighth-grade band received a second division rating. The Norup advanced orchestra earned a first division at this event for the ninth consecutive year.
• Last month at MSBOA's Middle School District Solo and Ensemble Festival, all orchestra students received a first division rating, including Nicole Feygin, Lucy Queen, Jo Pittman, Katherine Schmidt, Adena Collens, Maryam Adel and Leah Pernick, who wrote two of the ensemble pieces. Nicole Feygin, Jo Pittman and Maryam Adel earned a perfect score on their performances.
• Students participating in MSBOA Middle School Solo and Ensemble festival from Norup included Andrew Auger, Cameron Berke, Dan Rice, and Jacob Price, who received second division rating for an ensemble performance; Michael Smith, Grace Hermann, Langston Howley, Aiden Bergsman, Jacob Hook, Luke Paczos, Sam Hurwitz, Ryan Schildcrout, Hannah West, Samantha Katz, and Chloe Oliva, who received first division for ensemble; Ryan Schildcrout, second division for solo performance; and Delaney Hudson, Grace Hermann, Aiden Bergsman and Nick Rhein, first division for solo performance. In addition to receiving a first division rating on their woodwind trio, Hannah West, Samantha Katz and Chloe Oliva received a perfect score for their performance. Eighth-grade clarinet player Hannah West also made first chair at Blue Lake International Southern Winds.
• The band, under the direction of Jeff Blazis-Voight, held a Solo and Ensemble festival in which Hana Coon received a first division and Katie Stalcup and Ava Wirth received second division. Pam Kilbride, Anderson orchestra director, said the following students received first division solo awards: Chris Korsak, Katie Jones, Natalie Strand, Cobian Gleason, Taylor Roasa and Becca Kokotovich. Elise Yenkel received second division duet, and Meredith Orange, Mikayla Brooks, Claire Connors received second division trio.
• Many of the students have been invited to a recognition ceremony at the meeting May 14.

A fundraiser to support Berkley's music education program is scheduled for May 12. Berkley Instrumental Boosters will host its annual car wash at Berkley High School and funds will help the band and orchestra programs at local schools. .

For more information on the Berkley School District or its music education programs, visit berkleyschools.org.