WINSTON-SALEM — The American Independent Music Association announces that the following St. Leo School students have been inducted into the 2018 AIMA All-State Honor Band: Aidan Vu (trumpet), Brandon Ruff (saxophone), Dylan Whalen (trumpet), Jessa Pacholke (saxophone), Jon Paul Stone (drum), Olivia Stone (clarinet) and Trevor Boland (trumpet).
Criteria for acceptance included preparation for the Solo/Ensemble Festival, as well as progress shown each week in band class. St. Leo School had the highest number of Honor Band inductees of more than 60 schools across the country.
Honor Band students from Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee and North Carolina are now invited to participate in the educational Honor Band Tour in Washington, D.C., and Virginia Beach May 6-8. They will tour the Kennedy Center, play concerts at local schools, and enjoy several opportunities for advanced musical studies.
This news follows more recognition for the school’s band program, which earned the only perfect score and captured first place in the Winston-Salem Solo/Ensemble Festival at Wake Forest University held recently in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the American Independent Music Association. Fifteen St. Leo students participated and were adjudicated by professional band directors.
Jessa Pacholke earned the highest award with her saxophone solo among the five schools participating in the festival. She and Olivia Stone and Dylan Whalen ranked in the top 10 of all performers.
The following students earned “superior ranking”: Aidan Vu - III Trumpet Solo, Trevor Boland - II Trumpet Solo, Kristian Halvorsen - II Clarinet Solo, Jessa Pacholke - II Saxophone Solo, Matthew Pinder - II Keyboard Solo, Brandon Ruff - II Saxophone Solo, Jon Paul Stone - II Drum Solo, Olivia Stone - II Clarinet Solo, Dylan Whalen - II Trumpet Solo, Michael Agarwala - I Clarinet Solo, Kelly Goliber - I Trumpet Solo, and Grant Moya - I Trumpet Solo. The band’s flute/clarinet trio and trumpet trio also earned superior rankings.
The following students earned “excellent ranking”: Frantz Pierre - II Saxophone Solo, Thomas Pinder - II Saxophone Solo, and Isabella Durazo - II Flute Solo.
— Melissa Kinsley