4700 Stonecroft BlvdMessage from the President
Congratulations to our Ensembles who participated in the Mid-Atlantic Guitar Ensemble Festival at West Potomac High School in March. Both ensembles performed very well and received positive comments from the adjudicators. I would also like to congratulate Mason Iconangelo, recipient of this year’s Glen McCarthy Guitar Award. This award is given annually to the student in each FCPS high school guitar program who exhibits those traits that Glen McCarthy has inspired in his students during 30 years of teaching: superior overall musicianship and leadership within the guitar program. Winners are selected by the director of each individual school’s guitar program.
SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS: The Guitar Boosters set aside a portion of their budget for senior scholarships. These scholarships may be offered to guitar students who have been in the program for 2 or more years. Applications will be available in mid-April (online and in the WHS Career Center) and due back to the Career Center no later than Friday, May 15 at 2:30 p.m.
LETTER PROGRAM: In order to be eligible for a Letter Award this year, requests need to be submitted to Mr. Hall by NO LATER THAN Friday, April 24. The Awards and Letter Program worksheet is available in Mr. Hall's classroom or on our web site. The burden of proof for points earned is on the student. Points from previous years are only accepted with appropriate documentation - i.e. schedule, concert program, etc. I highly encourage students to fill out the worksheet every year. Once the worksheets are submitted the points are tracked until the awards are earned.
SENIOR PHOTOS: The All Night Grad Party (ANGP) committee is collecting photos for the ANGP slide show. They are looking for pictures of seniors from all 4 years. They must be digital (prints can be scanned into the computer). If you have any that you would like to have included in the slide show please email them to me (or put them on a disc and send them to Mr. Hall) by no later than Friday, April 24.
Thank you for your continued support of Music at Westfield!
GUITAR – AWARD WINNING PERFORMANCE
The Westfield Guitar Ensembles traveled to New York, NY in March to participate in the Performing Arts Consultants National Freedom Festival. The students performed at the Staten Island Community College before a panel of adjudicators. The Bulldog Classical Guitar Ensemble received a Gold rating from the judges and was awarded a first place trophy, the Steel String Guitar Ensemble earned a Silver rating and were awarded a first place trophy, and the Bulldog Jazz Guitars received a Gold rating and a first place trophy and were awarded the festival Grand Champion trophy for Instrumentals.
Congratulations to our outstanding musicians!
- Bulldog Ensemble:
- Iliana Fernandez
- Mary Hatfield
- Brendan English
- Ryan Selove
- Evan O’Gorman
- Nick Rocha
- David Bae
- Yu Ri Choi,
- Mason Iaconangelo
- Jimmy Pil Chin
- Si Young Jung
- Zack Stickles
- Gregoria Rosa-Distefano
- Steven Merz
- Jazz Guitars:
- Iliana Fernandez
- Gregoria Rosa-Distefano
- Brendan English
- Will Fruchterman
- Mason Iacanangelo
- Ryan Selove
- Evan O’Gorman
- Spencer Duggan
- Steel String Ensemble:
- Iliana Fernandez
- Samantha Del Castillo
- Will Fruchterman
- Justin Sunday
- Max McGough
- Steven Skees
- John Jewell
- Thomas Bowman
- Justin Madison
- Angela Wood
- Kristi Hoylman
- David Bae
- Chris Troscianecki
- Steven Little
- Kevin Chin
- Spencer Duggan.
While in New York our students hopped on the Circle Line ferry at Battery Park to get a close up look at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. A visit to Ground Zero and St. Paul’s Cathedral was a real life reminder of the sad day in history that happened right in their own lifetime. Students were awed by the night time view from the top of the Empire State Building (“the most amazing view I have ever seen”), and Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Finally, our students were treated to an awards ceremony, dinner and entertainment at Medieval Times Restaurant before heading back to Virginia to enjoy the rest of their spring break.
The WHS guitar students did an outstanding job representing our school!
For more information about the guitar program, please visit our web site, contact the director, Ken Hall at Kenneth.hall@fcps.edu , or myself at: president@westfieldguitar.org
Kym Sunday
President, Westfield Guitar Boosters