Music Masters

Jesuit High School's musical excellence was on display Thursday night (Feb. 20) during the Solo and Ensemble Concert in the MPR.

Led by band director Nina Wegmann, the combination of guitarists, percussionists, pianists, and band musicians treated the audience to four ensemble performances and 13 solo numbers. The selections ranged from the dramatic piano composition of Stephen Heller's "Warrior's Song" to Giuseppe Verdi's "Triumphal March." The concert concluded with a guitar duet by Ajay Vander Werf '20 and Christian Corcoran '23 of "Morenita do Brazil" by Giuseppe Farrauto, which was met by a huge ovation.

The concert capped off a series of outstanding performances by Jesuit musicians, who had participated in District competition over the previous two weekends. Four students received the highest possible rating at District, Superior with Distinction, and 15 students received marks of Superior or better.

Cal Bonifant '23 (violin), Preston Shembekar '22 (piano), Dominic Spada '21 (guitar), and Vander Werf (guitar) each received ratings of Superior with Distinction during this past weekend's competition at Strawberry Crest High School. Vander Werf and Corcoran earned Superior status for their guitar duet, while soloists Brian O'Leary '23 (violin), Cam Bailey '23 (guitar), Richard Harris '23 (guitar), and Corcoran (guitar) also received marks of Superior. Sean Boyle '23 was rated as Excellent for his guitar solo, and each of the aforementioned participants will advance to the State competition. 

At the District competition Feb. 7-8 at Plant High School, soloists Miggy Sumagang '21 (snare drum), Christian Micko '22 (piano), Ryan Finster '22 (baritone horn), Aidan Mahoney '23 (snare drum), Ryan O'Sullivan '23 (trumpet), Jonah Tran '22 (alto sax), and Michael Skarupa '22 (trumpet) all earned Superior ratings. Sumagang, Micko and Finster each will move on to the State competition. In addition, the tuba duet of Evan Dewey '23 and Nick Rodriguez '23 and the trumpet quartet of John Michael Rodriguez '21, Theo Baier '22, Skarupa, and O'Sullivan received ratings of Excellent in the ensemble category, while Edward Morrison '21 earned an Excellent rating for his baritone horn solo.

View photos below from the Solo and Ensemble Concert on Feb. 20.