Holmdel Sophomore Selected for State Honors Chamber Orchestra

HOLMDEL, NJ - Ranney School sophomore Jacob Egol of Holmdel has been accepted into the New Jersey Honors Chamber Orchestra after auditioning on March 18. He was one of only six cellists chosen to perform with this selective and talented group of high school musicians.

To be eligible to audition for any New Jersey all-state ensemble, students must first make it into one of the three regional orchestras. Jacob was first accepted into Region II orchestra, Central Jersey Music Educators Association. (Other regions inclulde: Region I- North Jersey School Music Association or NJSMA, Region III-South Jersey Band and Orchestra Directors Association or SJBODA. All are a part of NJMEA - New Jersey Music Educators Association). Approximately 50 cellists auditioned along with Jacob in December 2016.

Once accepted into the regional orchestra, Jacob was able to try out for All State, where 31 cellists auditioned. Of those, 16 were accepted into the New Jersey All State Orchestra, and 6 into the New Jersey Honors Chamber Ensemble. The Class of 2015's Sabrina Park also held this honor, representing Ranney in the All State Orchestra in 2014.

This summer, Jacob will also head to Michigan to participate in the world-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Academy. He performed Camille Saint-Saens' Allegro Appassionato Op. 43 and Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite No.1 in G Major to gain entrance into the academy’s High School World Youth Symphony Orchestra. He will take a variety of performance and music theory courses over the summer.

“We are very proud of Jacob, who has been a vital part of Ranney’s Performing Arts programs since the third grade,” said All-Division Orchestra director Dr. Dorothy Sobieski.