Memorable year for Vernon High orchestra
Vernon The 93-member Vernon Township High School Full Orchestra, under the direction of Jennifer Krott, has had a busy year and already has one prestigious event on its fall calendar. The orchestra was invited to participate in a workshop with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 18 at Sussex County Vo-Tech. Highlights of this year included: The VTHS Orchestra hosted the district’s first District Orchestra Day on April 14. The event brought together orchestra students from five of Vernon’s six schools, giving them an opportunity to work together and perform for each other. This spring, 30 string members of the orchestra travelled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., during Memorial Day weekend, where they participated in a workshop with a professional conductor, performed in Downtown Disney on the waterfront, and heard music playing throughout the theme park that they have performed themselves. Members of the Chamber Orchestra performed at a Woman’s Club meeting, at the Eighth Grade Parent Night, at Vernon Education Foundation Black Tie cocktail hour and at induction ceremonies for National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. The chamber orchestra members included: Vincent Assante, Jeffrey Brath, LaStaisa Godwin, Megan Maher, Ryan Nichols, Stephanie Peterson, Michael Rossi, Sylvia Rusnak and Lora Urbaniak. The VTHS String Quartet comprised of Vincent Assante, LaStaisa Godwin, Megan Maher and Michael Rossi performed at the Sussex County Teen Arts competition and were selected to perform at both the Teen Arts Showcase and the televised SCCC Senior Awards Ceremony. The students’ final performance of the year took place at the VTHS Solo Ensemble Concert on June 8, which included a performance by the VTHS Chamber Orchestra, as well as solo and duet performances by some orchestra members. Vincent Assante, Megan Maher, Ryan Nichols, and Michael Rossi performed an original composition, written by Vincent Assante.