From the flute to the trombone to the timpani, local middle school musicians are getting in the swing of things as they prepare for the Central Coast Honor Band performance at Pacific Grove Middle School (835 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove) on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 2pm.
More than 50 of the Central Coast’s most-talented middle school music makers will be performing for the public, and a handful of local musicians have earned their way into the group.
Baymonte Middle School eighth-grader Erik Sitarz (trombone) and sixth-graders Wynona Bredthauer (flute), Clark Jan (base clarinet) and Benson Evans (percussion) auditioned for the Central Coast Honor Band this year and made it into the group.
“They worked hard for this and we are all super proud of them,” said Jamie Schone, Baymonte’s admissions assistant.
Elizabeth Barrett, Baymonte band teacher, said she is thankful to see these students develop their talents.
“I am so thrilled that these students get the chance to make music in a huge ensemble like this,” Barrett added. “They’ll get to meet music lovers from all over the Central Coast and play alongside instruments like the bassoon and the bari sax that they’ve never even seen up close before. There’s nothing like performing in the center of a rich swath of sound and feeling your part meld and swell into something so large and beautiful—so far beyond what you could create on your own or have ever felt before.”
Baymonte Principal Rachel Hofmann applauded Barrett’s efforts.
“Over the last few years, Elizabeth has done an incredible job developing the band program,” Hofmann said. “She and her students have worked very hard, and it is exciting to hear how far they have come musically. The honor band is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to hearing them perform.”
Scotts Valley Middle School eighth-grader Alex Del Chiaro (percussion) has joined the Central Coast Honor Band, as well.
Del Chiaro has been in the SVMS band since he was in sixth grade. Outside of that, he takes private drum lessons and plays various genres of music with his friends.
According to Lacey Coenen-Villa, SVMS band instructor, Del Chiaro is the first student in many years to represent Scotts Valley Middle School in the Central Coast Honor Band.
“I know he’ll make us proud,” Coenen-Villa said.
Rounding out the local field are three seventh-grade musicians from San Lorenzo Valley Middle School: Orion Smith on clarinet, and Zoe Haff and Jacob Dore, both on trombone.
