J.P. Taravella High School
Band & Orchestra
News Archive 2002-2003

-
Congratulations to the members of the
Wind Orchestra and the Wind Symphony for receiveing STRAIGHT SUPERIORS
at the State Music Assessment. This is the first time in the history
of Broward County that a high school has taken two bands to State and received
Straight Superiors! To listen to recordings of the two bands, click
on the Audio link on the left hand column of this page.
-
Congratulations to Zach Redler, who
was asked to perform at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. for
a banquet sponsored by the Florida House for the Governor, the two Florida
Senators, and representatives.
-
Congratulations to those Band &
Orchestra members who were awarded Grand Champions at the Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Fiesta-Val Music Competition. JPT's Bands, Orchestras, and Jazz Ensemble
each won their individual categories, contributing to the Grand Championship.
JPT won every category it entered. In addition, several individual
students were recognized as outstanding soloists, the JPT Brass and Woodwind
sections were recognized as being the best in the competition, and Mr.
Neil Jenkins was recognized with a Directors Award.
-
Congratulations to Kristin Almond and
Zach Redler for receiving a "Future of the Arts" scholarship.
-
Congratulations to the JPT
Winter Guard, who finished 4th place at the
SFWGA Championships. We are very proud of you ladies!
-
J.P. Taravella High School's Music
Department has been selected as a Grammy Signature School
by the Grammy Foundation.
-
IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE ALERT!!!
Once again the Florida Legislature is considering a proposal that could
spell doom for the Fine Arts. Find out more about how you can help
by visiting this
site.
-
Congratulations to the following members
who were selected to the All-County Honors Band: Maho Azuma (Flute), Kevin
Pearl (Oboe), Megan Ziobro (Oboe), Nyssa Silbiger (Oboe), Mandy Short (Oboe),
Kristin Almond (Clarinet), Andrew Penn-Giannettino (Clarinet), Kerry Regan
(Clarinet), Taiki Azuma (Alto Sax), Mark Shatzkin (Tenor Sax), Nina Dvora
(Trumpet), Evan Orlowsky (Trumpet), Lyle Kossis (Trumpet), Galen Spikes
(Trumpet), Nicole de la Cal (Horn), Erica Silbiger (Horn), Cecilia Yudin
(Horn), Geoff Rabinowitz (Horn), Amy Alger (Horn), Matt Villa (Trombone),
Jamie Castillo (Euphonium), Adam Kol (Tuba), Andrew Leitch (Tuba), Greg
Stansel (Tuba), Zach Redler (Percussion), Sal Picataggio (Percussion),
and Mike Valeriotti (Percussion). JPT had 27 members selected, the
most in the county. In addition, JPT had 7 members selected as first
chair. Congratulations to the aforementioned members, and keep making
us proud.
-
Congratulations to the JPT
Wind Orchestra, the JPT
Wind Symphony, and the JPT
String Orchestra for receiving a rating
of SUPERIOR at their respective District 15 Assessments. In
addition, the JPT Symphonic Band
received a rating of EXCELLENT. The Wind
Orchestra, Wind
Symphony, and String
Orchestra are now qualified for State
Festival.
-
Congrats to the JPT
Winter Guard for their second place finish
at the SFWGA Taravella Show...our girls finished only 2 tenths away from
first place.
-
Congratulations to Zach Redler for
winning the First Lady's Arts Recogniton Scholarship. Zach was one
of only two winners in Broward County.
-
Solo & Ensemble Results
are now posted. Congratulations to all who participated!
-
Congratulations to the JPT
Jazz Ensemble and the JPT
Fusion Ensemble for their outstanding
performances at the District 15 Jazz Performance Assessment. The
Jazz Ensemble received a rating of Superior, while the Fusion Ensemble
received a rating of Excellent.
-
Exciting News! The J.P. Taravella
Band Program is proud to announce that it has commissioned composer Donald
Grantham to write a concert overture for the JPT Wind Orchestra, to be
finished sometime in the Fall of 2003/Spring 2004. Donald Grantham
is the winner of the 1999 and 2000 ABA-Ostwald Composition Award, and the
1995, 1998 and 1999 NBA Revelli Memorial Composition Contest. For
more information on Donald Grantham, check this link
and check back for updates on this exciting bit of news.
-
Congratulations to the following
people for their selection to the South Florida Honors Band: Lauren Ackerman
(Tuba), Amy Alger (French Horn), Kristin Almond (Clarinet), Taiki Azuma
(Alto Sax), Nicole de la Cal (French Horn), Adam Kol (Tuba), Aaron Levith
(Percussion), Evan Orlowsky (Trumpet), Kevin Pearl (Oboe), Andrew Penn-Giannettino
(Clarinet), Zach Redler (Percussion), Kerry Regan (Clarinet), and Cecilia
Yudin (French Horn).
-
Congratulations to the following
people for their selection to the All-County Jazz Ensemble: Evan Orlowsky
(Trumpet), Nina Dvora (Trumpet), Lyle Kossis (Trumpet), Matt Villa (Trombone),
David Zand (Guitar), Adam Kol (Piano).
-
Congratulations to the JPT
Marching Band for their 22nd consecutive
SUPERIOR rating at the FBA District Marching Evaluation. The kids
were wonderful in every way, and put on a SUPERIOR performance.
-
Congratulations to the following
people for their selection to All-State Band and Orchestra: Kristin
Almond (Clarinet), Taiki Azuma (Alto Saxophone), Alice Chao (Violin), Nicole
de la Cal (Horn), Nina Dvora (Trumpet), Mitch Friedman (Bass), Josh Halberg
(Viola), Adam Kol (Tuba), Lyle Kossis (Trumpet), Andrew Leitch (Tuba),
Elaine Li (Violin), Rachael Mathey (Violin), Kevin Pearl (Oboe), Andrew
Penn-Giannetino (Clarinet), Zach Redler (Percussion), Kerry Regan (Clarinet),
Andrew Rogers (Percussion), Mandy Short (Oboe), Cecilia Yudin (French Horn),
David Zand (Guitar-Jazz Band), and Megan Ziobro (Oboe). JPT had 16
members selected from the band, and 5 from the Orchestra, a new record
for both groups. This was also the third-highest total in the state,
and the highest in the county.
-
GOLF TOURNAMENT!!! For the first
time in over 10 years, the J.P. Taravella Band & Orchestra will be
hosting a Golf Tournament to raise funds for the general operation of the
program. For all the details, please visit our Golf
Tournament Page.
-
GRAND CHAMPIONS! The JPT
Marching Trojans performed at the Vero
Beach Crown Jewel Contest this past Saturday, 19 October, placing 1st in
the Diamond Class at the Preliminary competition, and winning Grand Champion
at the evening Finals Competition. The performance of the students
was amazing, and everyone involved has made the Directors very VERY proud
to be associated with such high-caliber young men and women CONGRATULATIONS
to all members of the JPT Marching Trojans! To chat about the Grand
Championship, or to offer your congratulations, please visit our Message
Board or our Guestbook
-
CONGRATULATIONS to the following
members of the JPT Band & Orchestra for their selection to the Broward
All-County Orchestra: Alice Chao (Violin), Elaine Li (Violin), Rachael
Mathey (Violin), Jacceleny Beltran (Violin), Jungmin Lee (Violin), Josh
Halberg (Viola), Justin McGeary (Viola), Chelsea Hepler (Viola), Jacob
Halberg (Viola), Marti Lobos (Viola), Julia Pires (Cello), Mitch Friedman
(Bass), Kevin Pearl (Oboe), Mandy Short (Oboe), Kristin Almond (Clarinet),
Andrew Penn-Giannetinno (Clarinet), Evan Orlowsky (Trumpet), Nina Dvora
(Trumpet), Nicole de la Cal (Horn), Cecilia Yudin (Horn), Erica Silbiger
(Horn), Amy Alger (Horn), Matt Villa (Trombone), Adam Kol (Trombone), Lauren
Ackerman (Tuba), Zach Redler (Percussion), Sal Picataggio (Percussion),
Nicole Marcus (Percussion), and Andrew Rogers (Percussion). Taravella
had the most members selected of any school. In addition, Alice,
Josh, Mitch, Kevin, Kristin, Nicole, Lauren, and Zach were all 1st chair.
Congratulations to all!
-
CONGRATULATIONS to the following
members of the JPT Band for their selection to the USF Festival of Winds
Honor Ensembles: Lauren Ackerman (Tuba), Adam Kol (Tuba), Andrew Penn-Giannetinno
(Clarinet), and Sal Picataggio (Percussion).
-
CONGRATULATIONS to the following
members of the JPT Band for their selection to the FSU Tri-State Festival:
Kristin Almond (Clarinet), Nicole de la Cal (Horn), Katie Jenkins (Contrabass
Clarinet), and Zach Redler (Percussion).
-
The JPT Band performed on the NBC Today
Show with Al Roker on Friday, 27 September. Despite a report time
of 3:45a.m. and a few sprinkles, the kids performed wonderfully, and were
enjoyed by all in attendance, surprising most everybody with their enthusiasm,
musicianship, and professionalism. We are all very proud of our JPT
members!
The JPT Band is looking for a used
24-foot truck that it can customize and use to transport equipment to and
from football games and contests. We cannot spend much, so we are
looking for either donations or sponsorships to help make this a reality.
If you have any contacts that may be able to help us find an inexpensive
truck that is in good shape, please contact us via email or phone ASAP
(contact info is at the bottom of this page).