Memories Remain for Students Selected for All-National Honor Ensembles

For the four students from Farmington High School selected for the 2011 All-National Honor Ensembles, their recent trip to Washington, D.C. is a memory that will remain with them forever.

The four musicians were chosen from 330 students nationwide to perform in the country's most prestigious student ensembles. Two students — Lisa Petricca, alto, and Benjamin Spar, tenor — performed in the All-National Choir. Emma Kang and Stephen Zaksewicz, both cellists, performed in the All-National Orchestra. After days of rehearsals with top-notch conductors, the ensembles performed at the John F. Kennedy Center on June 26.

"The All-Nationals was the most amazing musical experience of my life," enthused Emma Kang, who plays cello in Symphony Strings and also sings in the Farmington High School Chamber Singers. "I grew so much in my passion and appreciation for music."

"It was so exciting to play great music with an extremely talented and passionate group of other musicians who were as fascinated with playing at the Kennedy Center as was I," said Stephen Zaksewicz. He performs in the Symphony Orchestra, Vintage 21 Chamber Orchestra, and is the principal cellist for the Connecticut Youth Symphony at the Hartt School. He has been annually selected for the Northern Regional Choir and Orchestra in addition to the Connecticut All-State Choir and Orchestra. He is a tenor in the Farmington High School Chamber Singers.

The Farmington High School students are among the nation's finest high school musicians, said Leslie Imse, music department chair of the Farmington Public Schools. Imse said the students underwent a rigorous audition process, with the first step making the All-State ensembles — which they all did. Only eight students in Connecticut made it to All-Nationals. Four of those eight students were from Farmington High School.

"That four students made it from FHS is amazing," said Imse, who proudly noted this is the first time Farmington High School students have placed in the All-National Honor Ensembles.

Zaksewicz said he returned home with the realization music is universal.

"I'm so used to seeing the same people from regionals or All-State that I forget there are people all over the nation and all over the world who are learning, playing and loving music just like I am in little, old Farmington, Connecticut."

"I learned how important music is in different areas of the country, in different schools," said Kang, who said she was impressed with the talent of the other student musicians.

There were participants from throughout the country, including Alaska and Hawaii, said Ben Spar, who sings tenor in the Chamber Singers and Madrigal Singers and has been selected annually for the Northern Regional Choir. In addition, he plays viola in Symphony Strings and Vintage 21.

"Everyone was exceptional at his or her musical venue. It is sometimes difficult to keep things in perspective in the small world of Farmington. All-Nationals reminded me how immersive and inspiring music can be," said Spar.

The students all agreed the highlight of the trip was "being with such amazing people," as Spar noted. But there were other high notes as well.

Highlights of the three-day trip included Washington sightseeing such as a nighttime tour of the monuments and a concert performed specially for the students by U.S. Army musicians at the Capitol. In addition, the students were chosen to perform the National Anthem at the Drum Corps International Show.

Parents accompanied the students to Washington and attended the final performances, said Imse. The All-National Honors Orchestra performed all of Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony," added Kang.

"It was a great choice," noted Zaksewicz,"because my mom, who is not a musician herself, but enjoys hearing all my concerts, said the fact it is a piece so widely recognizable and popular made the concert much more enjoyable."

Lisa Petricca plays flute in the Farmington High School Wind Ensemble, bass guitar in the Jazz Band and sings alto in the Chamber Singers. She has been annually selected for the Northern Regional Choir and CT All-State Choir. She performed in the All-National Choir with Spar, who said the choir performed a survey of choral music from the past 400 years with an emphasis on the 20th century.

"The pieces were not more technically difficult than those performed at All-State festivals," explained Spar. "However, there was a much higher standard of musicality expected of us at All-Nationals than at All-State."

Students paid for their own transportation and festival fees, said Imse. However, the Friends of Music, which supports musical programs in the Farmington public schools, funded some of the expenses for each student.

"Farmington has fine musicians like these students due to the dedication and talent of our music teachers across the district," noted Imse. "The community is very supportive of music in the schools, and that is why Farmington was awarded as one of the Best Communities for Music Education this year."