COURTESY OF JANET HARRIGAN
Catholic schools
St. John Neumann honored The St. John Neumann School band performed at the Tennessee Music Education Association State Concert Festival in Clarksville after receiving a superior rating in the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association Middle Area Concert Festival on March 9 at Farragut High School.
SJN band performs at State Concert Festival
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n April 28 the concert band from St. John Neumann School in Farragut performed at the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) State Concert Festival at the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall on the campus of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. A total of 30 middle and high school programs from across the state performed at the event, which took place over a two-day period. The SJNCS band became eligible to participate in the TMEA Concert Festival when it received a superior rating at the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (ETSBOA) Middle Area Concert Festival on March 9 at Farragut High School. The superior rating is the highest rating and honor a band can receive. The St. John Neumann band also received a superior rating for its required sight-reading (performing a piece of music not seen before) in front of another judge. Forty-seven middle and high school programs performed at the ETSBOA event. Led by music director Jonathan Leichman, the St. John Neumann band performed three songs at the state festival: “His Honor” by Henry Fillmore (arranged by Andrew Balent), “Thoughts and Dreams”
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by Dwight Beckham Sr., and “Pinnacle” by Rob Grice. Mr. Leichman has been the music director for St. John Neumann School and Church since 2010. He currently teaches grades K-8 general music as well as grades 5-8 band and choir at the school. Additionally, he is the choir director and music coordinator for music ministry at the church. He also works collaboratively with Jay Romines and the band program at Knoxville Catholic High School. Mr. Leichman established the St. John Neumann concert band during the 2011-12 academic year. Under his direction the band program has grown from 18 to 41 students in this five-year period. Under his leadership the concert band performed at the ETSBOA Middle Area Concert Festival for the past two years, marking the first time in history that a middle school band has ever represented the Diocese of Knoxville’s Catholic school system at such a prestigious event. The St. John Neumann concert band performed for “comment only” last year but this year received a superior rating from all four judges. Mr. Leichman expressed his gratitude to Mr. Romines and the St. John Neumann administration for their support of the school band program. ■
COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT
Choral standouts St. Mary School seventh- and eighth-grade choral students stand with Carol Villaverde, St. Mary music teacher. From left are McKenna Garibay, Sydney Mesmer, Marigrace Tidwell, Paige Halcrow, Molly Deinhart, Ethan Sherlock, Joshua Harris, and Ian Kilevori. Not pictured is Anna Kasemir.
St. Mary School music program has strong year
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he music program at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge had a banner year in 2015-16 as students were recognized for their talents by selection in multiple honor choirs. St. Mary students Elizabeth Brands, Sophie Sherlock, and Gabriella Wilkerson were selected to participate in the 2016 Tennessee Treble Honor Choir. The singers sang under the direction of Dr. Derrick Fox, assistant professor of choral music education and choral conducting in the Ithaca College School of Music. St. Mary students also participated in the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Honor Choir in Chattanooga March 9-11.
Eighth-grader Marigrace Tidwell was one of eight students chosen to sing in the Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir from Tennessee and the only singer from East Tennessee. Seventh-grader Anna Kasemir was one of 18 students chosen to sing in the Treble Honor Choir from Tennessee and one of two from East Tennessee. St. Mary School participated in the East Tennessee Vocal Association Honor Choir event held in Chattanooga. The All-East Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir was made up of more than 275 advanced seventh- and eighth-grade vocal students from 29 East Tennessee schools. ■
KCHS junior wins National Travel Award
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ndrew Maze, a junior at Knoxville Catholic High School, has won the 2016 Junior Travel Award for his achievement on the National Spanish Examination and for his excellent skills in the Spanish language. In July, Andrew will be traveling to Spain with the other 23 winners. “This national award, valued at $3,500 and sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, is awarded annually to 24 students from across
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
the United States who become eligible by earning high scores on the National Spanish Examinations,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, national director of the exams. “The students then submit samples of their written and oral work in Spanish to a selection committee.” Knoxville Catholic High School, which has a long history of excellence in academics, has participated in the National Spanish Examination for the last five years. Andrew’s Spanish teacher is Luzzette Slough. ■ dioknox.org