Mendham Students Named Outstanding Band Members By MPAC

MENDHAM, NJ — Two Mendham students were recognized as outstanding band members by the Mayo Performing Arts Center for their achievements on the stage.

Parker Abramson and Charlie Sager were both recognized for their talents. Students are nominated by teachers, and are chosen by MPAC's theater education department based on "commitment to and excellence in the performing arts." All students honored are invited to preform at a year-end recital in June.

Parker Abramson, an eighth grader at Mountain View School, was nominated by Leigh Carpenter. This is what she had to say:

Parker is the type of student a band director wishes they had a hundred of. Parker plays at an advanced skill level, is a self motivated and disciplined learner, and has great passion for music. Parker immediately takes correction and applies it to her playing. And not just for the day but will remember it for the next class, rehearsal, performance! She asks for enhanced work, and volunteers to do solos, for example, Parker even taught herself to play the drum set in order to accompany our Choir when she found out there was a need. Parker is valuable to our group as she can be relied upon to give of herself to help focus the other students in her section, and to help teach them the music.

Charlie Sager, a seventh grader at Mendham Township Middle School, was nominated by Russell Branch. Read his nomination here:

Charlie is simply the highest achieving student I have ever had. He made 1st chair JH Regions by a margin of 20 pts over the 2nd chair player as a 7th grader. He studies piano in addition to trumpet and has long expressed his desire to be a band director since the 3rd grade. He has mastered my rhythm study packet as a 6th grader and participates to the fullest extent he can in our band program studying Jazz, Wind Ensemble, regions workshops and Concert Band. Charlie keeps his eye on the ball and encourages and enables his peers by giving up solos for someone else to play and offering advice and setting a high standard.

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