West Morris Central Wins 4 Awards At National Competition

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Orchestra of West Morris Central dazzled on a national stage recently, bringing home four awards from the Worldstrides Onstage Heritage Annapolis National Music Festival in Annapolis last month.

Thirty-eight students of the WMC orchestra, directed by Jennifer Meckler performed for three prestigious judges, received verbal and written comments, and rehearsed with a clinician, Meckler said. The awards were presented in the stadium of a Medieval Times Dinner.

The trip was a highlight for the students, with one senior saying, “This trip was hands-down the best field trip of my high school career.”

The WMC Orchestra earned a Gold rating, which is a score within 90-100/100. All three participating-orchestras in the national festival earned Gold, but WMC scored the highest of all to take home the Outstanding Orchestra trophy.

The entire viola section of the orchestra was presented with a Maestro Award, which is typically awarded to students who perform remarkable individual solos. The WMC Orchestra also earned the Festival Spirit Award by best representing their school and demonstrating excellent cooperation with the festival staff and showing enthusiastic support of all festival activities.

It wasn't all business and no fun: in addition to the festival events, the students visited the U.S. Naval Academy to see a demonstration of the chapel’s world-renowned pipe organ, attended a performance of the Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club, and attended a performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, including a solo piece played by the world-famous violinist Ray Chen. For non-musical fun, the orchestra visited the Baltimore Aquarium, Maryland Zoo, Medieval Times Dinner & Show, Six Flags America, and the Baltimore & Annapolis Harbors.

You can see the WMC Orchestra in this year’s final concert on May 25, at 7:30 pm in the WMCHS Auditorium.

• Row 1 (front): Quinn Iannuzzo, Uma Kommineni, JoAnn Liu
• Row 2: Chris Notarnicola, Anna Moffitt, Sara Cavallone, Kaitlin Cheung, Elizabeth Stopa, Lila Oualim, Michaela Moran, Anna Gardner, Maddie Boyd
• Row 3: Ms. Meckler, David Fromkin, Morgan Schade, Rebecca Czyzewski, Taylor King, Sarah Moorehead, Maddie Ashton
• Row 4 (back right): Nesha Daneshwar, Meg Harmon, Emily Nowak, Colleen Hare, Elizabeth Ramsey, Pam Smith
• Row 5 (back): David Balcon, Neeve Kadosh, Nate Mange, Omero Ramierez-Guerrero, Sarah Murray, Matt Frommeyer, Katie McCarver, Mahir Kabir, Abby Pugh, Zach Naughright, Hayley Capilitan, Ray Walter, Zach Mange, James Tank

Images via Jennifer Meckler

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