By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Northborough – Seven very talented and dedicated student musicians from Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) in Northborough attended the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) 2018 All-State Conference March 2-3 in Boston. They are Christina Iverson (viola), Merry Qian (flute), Rhea Sathnur (chorus), Julia Kardos (chorus), Charlie McLarnon (clarinet), Abby Barnes (clarinet) and Maya Sagarin (trombone).
The conference culminated with a concert March 3 at Symphony Hall in Boston with performances by chorus, jazz band, orchestra and symphonic band.
Each of the selected students from ARHS went through rigorous auditions that began in November, in which 385 students were chosen from 934. Then, based on their scores, about half of those were invited to audition in January to participate in All-State. Of the 20 or so ARHS students invited to audition, these seven were selected.
The students joined almost 500 of the top high school student musicians at the conference and had the opportunity to learn from some of the country’s top conductors.
Christina shared that the orchestral theme was centered on Great Britain and included the piece, “Crown Imperial” by Walton. Other selections of note included Duke Ellington’s “Sepia Panorama” performed by the Jazz Band. The Symphonic Band performed Donald Grantham’s “Trumpet Gloria” and the Chorus sang “National Anthem: Gwyneth Walker’s Arrangement of ‘Land of the Free.’”
Merry began playing the flute in fourth grade and plans to continue through college and beyond. She plays in the Worcester Youth Orchestra.
Christina began playing the violin in second grade and switched to the viola only a few years ago. She performs in the New England Conservatory Youth Orchestra.
Julia said, “I started with the Worcester Children’s Choir at Assumption College in fourth grade and I’m planning on continuing.” She does double duty with the ARHS music program.
Rhea performs and studies Indian Classical music.
“They all play in some kind of group elsewhere apart from school and they do other things besides All-State that prepares them for high-level performing,” noted Amy Collins, ARHS Fine & Performing Arts Department chair.
For more information about All-State and the concert March 3, visit www.massmea.org.