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MS Ensembles Rock Annual Music in the Parks Festival

Approximately 50 student-musicians representing Ranney’s Middle School Band, Chorus and Orchestra ensembles earned individual and group awards at the 2012 Music in the Parks Festival in Hellertown, Pennsylvania on Friday, May 18, 2012.
Approximately 50 student-musicians representing Ranney’s Middle School Band, Chorus and Orchestra ensembles earned individual and group awards at the 2012 Music in the Parks Festival in Hellertown, Pennsylvania on Friday, May 18, 2012.

The first to perform for judges at this annual event, which took place at Saucon Valley Middle School, were members of the Middle School Chorus. After introducing such songs as “My Sha-La-La-La-Locker’s Stuck” by Stephen Lawrence and Greg Gilpin’s “Why We Sing” at a Middle School Spring Concert on Thursday, May 17, 2012, the Chorus then proudly presented these same selections — through the guidance of director Lilly Torrente — with both poise and confidence at the festival on Friday afternoon.

Following a casual picnic lunch beneath a tree on the grounds of Saucon Valley Middle School, members from Ranney’s Middle School Band and Orchestra ensembles then received the opportunity to compete against eight other schools, including Calvary Christian Academy and Albert Leonard Middle School, by presenting their musical selections on a stage in the high school’s auditorium. First up was the Middle School Orchestra, which relied on the instruction of conductor Dorothy Sobieski, D.M.A. while performing “Crocodile Rock” by both Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and Mozart’s “Amadeus, Symphony No. 25.” “Students in the Orchestra have seen such an improvement this school year,” said Dr. Sobieski. “Aside from advancing their string technique and the level of music played, they now also put their emotions into their music and truly feel what they are playing.”

Up next, the Middle School Band performed the following selections led by director Kevin Cotter: “O Mio Bambino Caro” by Puccini and “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga. Overall, each parent, faculty member and judge in attendance unanimously agreed that Ranney’s performances at this year’s festival were, by far, its best yet!

As a result of such fine performances, Ranney School garnered the below results:
Festival Participation Awards
MS Band, under the direction of Mr. Kevin Cotter – Good Rating, 4th Placement
MS Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Lilly Torrente – Excellent Rating, 1st Placement
MS Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Dorothy Sobieski – Good Rating, 1st Placement

Special Awards
Ranney Middle School Chorus - Overall Choir, Junior High/Middle School
Tessa Payer ’16 - Overall Vocalist, Junior High/Middle School
Sarah Killian ’18 - Overall Student Accompanist, Junior High/Middle School

Students received their awards during a ceremony hosted at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania later in the evening. To celebrate this year’s musical accomplishments, students, faculty members and parent chaperones also explored the park’s rides, arcades and shops, as well as shared their excitement with other schools. “It was a great experience and the students are already discussing next year’s event,” said Mrs. Torrente. “In the meantime, Ranney’s ensemble directors are busy looking for new and exciting ways to make this experience even more meaningful for all students involved in the music program at Ranney School.”

Congratulations to the following participants!
Grade Six     
Grade Seven       
Grade Eight
1. Jared Cohen
2. Aidan Flynn
3. Ankur Govil
4. Luke Grover
5. Anisha Gupta
6. Alya Hozayen
7. Sarah Killian
8. Laura Lehrfeld
9. Carmine Mastrokostas       
10. Leonidas Mastrokostas
11. Christian Pacifico
12. Alexander Roberts
13. Toby Savage
14. Jari Walzog
1. Amanda Aboujaoude        
2. Caroline Billyard
3. Aidan Denver-Moore
4. Alanna Boland
5. Anna Csiky
6. Michael DePalma
7. Liam Fitzmaurice
8. Taylor Gill
9. Brittany Hofferber
10. Grace Hofferber
11. Shane Keenan
12. Michael Ingulli
13. Robert Johnson
14. Keenan Maher
15. Pooja Nayyar
16. Olivia Nisbet
17. Julianna Poupard
18. Evan Schultz
19. James Wolfe
20. Kevin Xia
21. Taylor Zenner
1. Karl Brand
2. Nelson Chan
3. Kyra Citron
4. Jerome Cohen
5. Jack Fink
6. Sallie Haas
7. Sophia Jackman
8. Nikhil Lakhani
9. Francesca Lionetti
10. Dean Parker
11. Tessa Payer
12. Ruchi Raval
13. Jamie Shamilian
14. Megan Singh
15. Audra Smires
16. Katrina Triolo
17. Shruthi Vaidyaselvan
18. Sana Zaidi
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.