CLAREMONT — It has been a remarkable year of achievement by Stevens High School musicians and singers with several top awards in state and regional competitions.
“This is the first year I have had every single group get a 1 rating and first place,” said Taylor Trudeau last week at Stevens while students prepared for the final concert of the year. “I am not sure Claremont has had this many students make all-state in a very long time.”
Ciaran Adrian, a senior headed to the University of New Hampshire in the fall to continue his music education, placed second in the statewide competition for clarinet and wrote a band composition that won the New Hampshire Music Educators Association student composer competition and was played at the high school spring concert.
Adrian credited Trudeau, who came to Stevens five years ago, for increasing participation in the school’s band during his four years from fewer than 20 to about 60.
“She is absolutely fantastic,” Adrian said. “I don’t think I would have succeeded as well without her. Just phenomenal.”
Lilyanna Eagan, received the highest baritone saxophone score in the state, said Trudeau, who also teaches choir and musical theater, and theater teacher Catherine Gessner, both are “very supportive” and it is a “great environment” at Stevens.
“We don’t just play, we like to perform and entertain audiences,” Eagan said.
Other honors: Andrew Grady: Only student selected for All State Modern Band on piano; Trevor Adams, Adrian, Nicole Bouchard, Eagan and Miles Sheehan: NHMEA All State Band, Orchestra and Choir, the highest musical ensemble/honor a high school student can achieve
“Being up there receiving the trophy with my classmates was really awesome,” said Adams, a senior who will study music education at the University of Hartford in the fall.
Several awards were earned at the regional Music in the Parks festival, in Holyoke, Mass., with Stevens performing for judges and competing against other schools.
Sheehan, who will attend Keene State and has been accepted into the New Hampshire Army National Guard band as a vocalist, won outstanding vocal soloist award; Stevens Choir received the “Best Overall Choir of the Day” award.
The Stevens band, choir, musical theater and percussion ensembles all received a “1” rating and placed first in their division.
Also receiving 1 ratings at the NHMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival were the Woodwind Quintet of Adrian, Bouchard, Hamlet Collado and Autumn Jensen and Collado on the flute.
Bouchard (bass clarinet) was third in the state and Adams (snare drum) and Sheehan (bass voice) were fifth in the state competition.
The proudest moment for Trudeau was when her students received the “Esprit de Corp” Award at Music in the Parks.
“This award is given to only one group from the entire competition, regardless of division,” Trudeau said in an email. “It is voted on by the festival hosts and recognizes the group that they believe best demonstrates professionalism, enthusiasm, spirit and teamwork based on how the students treat the festival hosts, their directors and each other throughout the day.”
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
