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All-Shore Orchestra Honors Ranney Student with Membership Awards

This year, the All Shore Orchestra celebrated its eighth season with a highly anticipated annual concert on February 21st at Wall Intermediate School. Founded by accomplished music educator Daniel Marinho, the All Shore Orchestra was established to provide high-caliber performance opportunities for high school string students in Monmouth and Ocean County. Recognizing the growing demand for similar opportunities among younger musicians, the Intermediate All Shore Orchestra was later introduced to include middle school students.

According to the All Shore Orchestra’s mission, "The philosophy of All Shore Orchestra centers around the belief that the orchestra as an ensemble is an inextricable part of human culture, featured in virtually all aspects of media and the arts, and as such deserves its rightful place in education and the local community. The 21st-century orchestra is not just about playing – it is about developing future loyal audiences and fostering a lifelong appreciation of music in all those involved" (All Shore Orchestra website, March 4, 2025, https://allshoreorchestra.com/about-us/).

The All Shore Intermediate Orchestra welcomes students in grades 6 through 8, while the High School Orchestra is open to students in grades 9 through 12. To join, students must audition with standardized scale and sight-reading requirements, as well as perform annually selected solos tailored to their respective instruments—violin, viola, cello, or bass.

This season, the All Shore Orchestra welcomed two additional conductors to the high school ensemble: Mrs. Chelsey Dokus, Vice President of the All Shore Orchestra, and Dr. Dorota Sobieski, Orchestra Director at Ranney School. The concert featured a diverse repertoire. The Intermediate Orchestra performed "Blue Rhythmico" by Kirt Mosier, "In Winter" by Vivaldi (arr. Todd Parrish), and "Ó Abre Alas" by Chiquinha Gonzaga (arr. Deborah Baker-Monday). The High School Orchestra showcased "Allegro" from Divertimento in F Major, K 138 by Mozart, Playful Pizzicato from Simple Symphony by Benjamin Britten, Music from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz, and Perseus by Soon Hee Newbold. Both groups came together for lively renditions of Viva La Vida by Coldplay and Kashmir by Led Zeppelin.

Several talented Ranney musicians participated in the All Shore Orchestra this season. In the Intermediate group were Julia Adler, Sareena Rao, Martin Heijs, and Navya Gala, while the High School group featured Ava Costa, Stefania Wishney, Katherine Baxter, Avi Rao, and Ansh Patel. Notably, Ranney eighth-grade cellist Judah Adler performed with both ensembles, mastering two full programs and attending rehearsals for both groups.

A special moment concluded the February 21st concert, recognizing two dedicated senior violinists from Ranney School, Krishna Khetani and Khushi Patel. Having been members of the All Shore Orchestra every year since sixth grade, they received membership awards for their seven years of commitment. Violist Alexander Holt was also honored for his impressive six years of participation.

Reflecting on her experience, Krishna shared, "Being a part of the All Shore Orchestra has been an amazing experience for me. I've been able to interact with talented musicians from other schools and work under the guidance of several conductors! Playing in a different environment has pushed me to challenge myself, and it’s deepened my love for music."

Khushi added, "The opportunity to be a part of the All Shore Orchestra throughout the years has been a rewarding experience. My musical abilities have grown with each rehearsal and performance, connecting me with talented peers who share the same passion. I am grateful for the memories, friendships, and musical journey that have shaped my time with the orchestra."

Alexander echoed similar sentiments, saying, "Overall, ASO has been my favorite out-of-school activity during high school. I've had a great experience with all the conductors and musicians, and I enjoyed all of the music we played. I've always liked to challenge myself by tackling difficult parts, and All Shore gave me the best opportunity to do so. This year was definitely my favorite since it was my last one. I am going to miss it!"
Programs like the All Shore Orchestra continue to strengthen instrumental music education in our schools. The orchestra has played a meaningful role in the musical journeys of many Ranney string students, and we look forward to seeing new generations carry on this tradition, contributing to the rich history of the All Shore Orchestra.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
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