Life at St. John’s
Top left: The St. John’s Wind Ensemble on stage with the Maryland Band Directors’ Band in October. Left: Kendall Steele ’14, Hannah Hardy ’14, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Kendra Pryor ’14, Lauren White ’14, Emelie Stewart ’15 and Kenneth Hammann at a reception for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Above: Hannah Hardy ’14 marched in the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Student Musicians Shine It was a busy fall semester for St. John’s student musicians. On Oct. 11, the St. John’s Wind Ensemble gave a concert with the Maryland Band Directors’ Band at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD. The Maryland Band Directors’ Band is composed of teachers from schools across Montgomery County, including St. John’s own Director of Bands Kenneth Hammann. On Nov. 13, the Woodwind Ensemble played at a reception for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, MD. Hannah Hardy ’14 traveled to New York City to march in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 22 as part of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. This ensemble included 6 Scarlet&Grey Winter 2013
260 high school musicians, color guard, and dancers from across the country. Hannah auditioned earlier in the semester and is the fourth student from SJC to make the group. She spent the week before the parade rehearsing, but also had a chance to do some sightseeing and catch a performance of “Mamma Mia” on Broadway. On Dec. 1, the St. John’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble competed in the annual Washington Archdiocesan Music Teachers’ Council’s High School Band Festival. The Wind Ensemble earned an excellent rating, and the Symphonic Band earned a superior rating. To see these and other band performances, visit our performing arts
YouTube page at www.youtube.com/ user/SJCPerformingArts. Finally, 12 SJC students represented the school at the third annual Catholic University of America Honor Band for High School Musicians on Dec. 8. There were 68 students overall from 12 high schools. Representing St. John’s were Tim Barry ’14 (bassoon), Kelsey Edwards ’14 (clarinet), Hannah Hardy ’14 (clarinet), Hailey Holt ’13 (oboe), Michael Kaibni ’13 (euphonium), Ryan Neitzey ’14 (percussion), Kevin Nuckolls ’13 (trombone), Kendall Steele ’14 (flute), Emelie Stewart ’15 (bass clarinet), Travis Tomon ’14 (trumpet), Collin Wallish ’15 (trombone), and Lauren White ’14 (flute).