BRHS Students Named All-Eastern Musicians

A total of three Bridgewater-Raritan High School students received the prestigious honor of being accepted into the All-Eastern Division Conference Honors Band. 

This prestigious award is given to selected high school students as part of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME).  

Seniors Christopher Aiello, Nicolaus Schrum and Amulya Yalamanchili were chosen from high school musicians in 13 northeastern states and the District of Columbia to perform in the 2013 National Association for Music Education Eastern District Conference. 

"I and [band director Larry Markiewicz] are so very proud of these three representatives of the band program here at BRHS,” band director Gary Myer said. “Their accomplishments are a direct result of their hard work, dedication and many talents."

The conference itself is held every two years and is hosted by a local state Music Educators Association. The 2013 Conference will be held from April 4 through April 7 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Aiello has been playing the trombone since fourth grade and is currently in his third year performing with the jazz band. He has been part of the marching band all through high school and was section leader this year and last year on tuba.

Aiello started playing tuba during his junior year, after playing baritone for two years, and has made great accomplishments as he earned a spot in the Region Band his junior and senior year, both times earning second chair. He also earned a spot in the All-State Band his junior and senior year, earning second and third chair.

Now, Aiello is in the high school wind ensemble and is section leader. He also is a member of the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band.

Schrum has played euphonium in the band program for four years, plays trombone in the jazz band, plays baritone in the marching band and was co-drum major this year. He earned a seat in region band all four years of high school, and was first chair in the wind ensemble both junior and senior years.

Schrum also earned a seat in the All-State Band during three of the four years, earning first in the state in his senior year.

Yalamanchili has been playing the trombone since fifth grade, and has been an avid member of the BRHS music program throughout high school, playing trombone in the wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, and baritone as a section leader of the marching band. She has also been accepted into the Central Jersey Region Band/Orchestra for the last five years, and into the prestigious New Jersey All-State Band for the last three years.

Yalamanchili began teaching trombone lessons, and, this year, one of her students was accepted into the Central Jersey Region Intermediate Band as a sixth grader.

All three musicians will join their peers as the highly acclaimed wind ensemble and symphonic band will perform at Carnegie Hall Friday.

Board member Evan Lerner said he is always impressed by the work of the members of the band.

"Being an amateur musician myself (sax and guitar), and having played in my high school jazz and marching bands and college jazz band many years ago, I have a pretty good ear for talent and understand and appreciate the hard work and dedication the students in our music program invested in their craft, which makes me appreciate them even more," he said. "Watching the Monday band the other night was particularly special for me as I've known three of the sophomores in the band since they were little and attending Adamsville with my daughter, Samantha."