Ray Schools presents music awards to student musicians

  Studies have shown that music is important for children’s development.  It rounds out their education and teaches them so much.

  Ray Unified School District knows this and celebrates the student musicians with an annual awards concert.  This year, the concert was held on May 10 and included music from all its bands: fifth grade, sixth grade, junior high, senior high and ended with a consolidated performance of all the bands.

  The bands are under the direction of Michael Napientek, who completes his first year at Ray Schools.

  The fifth grade band performed three pieces, Flying High, Down By the Station and Variations on a Theme (Mozart). Students in the band are: flutes – Neveah Curiel and Isabella Montijo; clarinets – Serenity Biano-Yslas, Vanessa Bui, Nick Lopez, Analina Montijo, Analysia Nunez, Graciela Rivera and Savannah Schmidt; saxophones – Shaylee Fales, Dominic Fessenden, Bridgette Gennicks, Brandon Mannion, Johnathan Molina, Blake Ortiz and Nopi Quinn; trumpets – Alex Lechuga, Faith Rabb, Raymond Sanchez and Vincent O’Brien; baritone – Mary Salazar Jurado; trombones – Avery Acuna and Estrella Brumley; and percussion – Matthew Amos, Jade Bentley, Mark Chester, Eddie Gutierrez and James Ruiz.

  Following their performance, Ray Elementary Principal Rochelle Pacheco presented several awards:

• Faith Rabb, Best Posture Award

• Bridgette Gennicks, Best Role Model Award

• Nicholas Lopez, Star Performer Award

  The sixth grade band performed Amazing Grace, Skip to My Lou and The Water is Wide. The sixth grade band includes: clarinets – Madison Kenney and Yasmin Rivera; saxophones – Ethan Chester, Alexis Gallego and Cambria Sosa; trombone – Isaiah Biano-Yslas; and percussion – Faith Bracamonte, Carpenter Bryce, Liam Foster and Joseph Morales.

    Following their performance, Ray Elementary Principal Rochelle Pacheco presented several awards:

• Cambria Sosa, Most Improved Award

• Joseph Morales, Best Posture Award

• Faith Bracamonte, Best Role Model Award

• Alexis Gallego, Star Performer Award

  The junior high band performed the Olympic March, Themes from Harry Potter (Hedwig’s Theme and Harry’s Wondrous World) and Hoedown. Members of the band include: flutes – Marissa Baez and Serenity Verdugo; clarinet – Ricky Rabb; saxophones – Perfecto Bracamonte, Zander Dickey and Tyler Warren; trumpets – Isaiah Azevedo, Ricky Jurado, Brina Morales, Ashiya Varley and Isabella Wernett; and percussion – Johnathan Jurado, Elias Martinez, Joshua Sewell and Marcos Torres.

    Following their performance, Ray Jr./Sr. High Principal Curt Cook presented several awards:

• Richard Rabb, Most Improved Award

• Zander Dickey, Star Performer Award

  The high school band performed Raider’s March, Simple Gifts (conducted by student conductor Brittany Smitch), Jamaica Farewell (conducted by guest conductor Professor Judith E. Grimes) and Disney Film Favorites. Members of the band include: flutes – Molli Davila-Verdugo, Janna Lengel, Joseph Marquez, Brittany Smitch and Tiffany Smitch; clarinets – Jessica Garcia, Brianna Goad, Emma Stuart and Elizabeth Ziegler; saxophone – Juan Rivera; trombone – EJ Baca; Euphonium – Riley Cude; cello – Elora Foster; tuba – Saul Torres; and percussion – Alejandro Baez, Faith Hinojos and Allen Martinez.

    Following their performance, Ray Jr./Sr. High Principal Curt Cook presented several awards:

• Juan Rivera, Outstanding Freshman Award

• Aaron Azevedo, Outstanding Sophomore Award

• Riley Cude, Outstanding Junior Award

• Joseph Marquez, Ray Band Director’s Award

• Elizabeth Ziegler, John Philip Sousa Band Award

  The combined bands finished out the evening with Anchors Aweigh.