Hopatcong Musician Seeks 'Monumental' Honor

's most accomplished musician hopes to soon add another accomplishment to her ever-growing list.

Sophomore Laura Willis will attempt to impress judges at the North Jersey School Music Association regional band competition Jan. 7, an accomplishment she said "would be a big deal." Willis, a flutist, earned second chair with the Sussex County band in the fall.

"There's a lot of competition," Willis said. "It would be really huge if I got in."

The regional band consists of seven counties—Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren.

Hopatcong High School band director Matt Testa said Willis, who's played flute since fifth grade, "works tremendously hard" and credited her progress to private lessons. Willis agreed. She said instructor Melinda McCoy-Miller, whom she met through Testa, has played an integral role in her success.

"With the solos that you need to use to try out with the county or regional band, (McCoy-Miller) has those and she helps me figure out the weird stuff in them and the technical stuff with the flute," Willis said.

Willis, who also participates in mock trial and with the drama club, was encouraged to pursue music by former music teacher Lucian Costanzo, said Ron Willis, her father.

"And Mr. Testa has just taken that to the next level," the father said.

Willis said she was surprised to earn such a high spot on the county band. Testa said flute is among the county's most popular instruments, alongside the clarinet and trumpet.

"If she gets into [the regional band] as a sophomore, that will be monumental," Testa said.

Willis on the junior regional band in 2010.

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