Pride of Herndon earns Honors in District/All-State Bands and Regional Governor's School

Nine representatives from the Pride of Herndon represented Herndon High School in All-District Band, with three members advancing to All-State auditions. All three will fill spots in the state’s top high school ensembles at Christopher Newport University on April 9-11.

Students participating in All-District Band February 5-7 at Chantilly HS were Jacob Reeves and James Adams on percussion in the Wind Ensemble. Carey Rice (B flat clarinet), Aimee Toner (flute), Timothy Viado (oboe), Simon Fogleson (tenor trombone), Braden Cuttler (tenor trombone), Angela Phelps (trumpet), and Sonali Sheelam (percussion) participated in the Symphonic Band. Shennan O’Day (euphonium), Kevin Archambeault (E flat clarinet), and Ronan O’Day (tuba) served as alternates.

Two juniors, Jacob Reeves on percussion, Aimee Toner on flute, and freshman James Adams on percussion earned their position in the All-State Band by competing in a field of over 1000 students from across the state playing every instrument in band and orchestra. Reeves and Adams competed against 73 percussionists to rank 4th and 22nd overall, while Toner obtained a ranking of 13 out of 65 flutes competing.

This year will be Reeves’ and Toner’s second appearance in All-State Band. They both represented Herndon at last year’s festival, which was held at Virginia Tech.

“Going back a second year as one of the principal players is exciting. I hope to look at music in a different way with the help of the conductor. Last year, our conductor focused on rhythmic accuracy and the quality of sound,” said Reeves, of the opportunity to return to the ensemble.

His classmate Aimee Toner echoed his excitement about working with new directors. Dr. Anthony Maiello from George Mason University will lead the orchestra, Dr. Lawrence Stoffel from California State University, Northridge will lead the symphonic band, and Dr. Damon Talley from Louisiana State University will conduct the concert band.

“I’m excited to meet the new director and see the kind of program he might choose,” she said.

Freshman James Adams reflected on the pressure of his first All-State competition and his excitement over being chosen to play in the concert band.

“There was obviously noticeable competition. The actual music, I’m looking forward to it. But I’m more looking forward to getting to see the people who make the bands, the orchestra, getting to see how good they are, and getting to be friends with them.”

Junior Simon Fogelson brought further accolades to the Pride of Herndon by advancing to the final round of qualification for the Virginia Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts. Students from across the state apply yearly, with only 200 chosen in the categories of theatre, dance, visual art, and instrumental music. Fogelson, first chair trombone for the Herndon Wind Ensemble, will be notified by April 15 of his final status. If he is chosen, he will be the third instrumentalist in two years from Herndon High School to participate in the program.

Fogelson advanced to the final round in a process that began in November and includes academic performance, teacher recommendations, essay, and an in person audition. He decided to apply when he heard about the experiences of last year’s participants.

“I know they had a great time last year. I heard about the program, and it sparked my interest,” said Fogelson. He is excited about the prospect of a summer program geared towards the performing arts.

“My favorite part was playing for them,” Fogelson said, when asked about the audition process.

The program will be held, along with the Virginia Governor’s School for the Humanities, at Radford University from June 28-July 25.