The following students successfully auditioned into the 2018 All-South Jersey Jazz Band:
Tae Kim, Justin Farquhar, Matt Goffin and Alex Kaup.  The band will be performing at Cinnaminson High School on Sunday, April 22nd at 3 PM.  Way to go everyone!  

New Jersey All-State Band
The annual All-State Band auditions took place on Saturday, January 20th, 2018 at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ.  Students from New Jersey’s three Region Honors Bands are eligible to register for the audition.  The Cherokee High School Instrumental Music Department directors and administration sponsored thirteen students for the All-State Band auditions.  The Cherokee High School Band Director, Michael Lynch, attended the auditions and participated as a Region III judge and/or moderator. 
Each student was required to perform all twelve major scales and/or the percussive rudiments, a select chromatic scale, two select solo excerpts, and a challenging short piece that was sight-read during the audition.  The students studied and rehearsed the required materials for countless hours and worked closely with Cherokee band directors and private instructors to ensure the highest levels of performance.
 
Congratulations to the following students for winning a position with the All-State Symphonic Band:
All-State Symphonic Band
Meghan Correll – 3rd Chair; Alto Clarinet
Alex Kaup – 2nd Chair; Bb Clarinet
Tae Kim – 1st Chair; Soprano Saxophone
 
These students will rehearse at the Mason Gross School of Music at Rutgers University in New Brunswick during the New Jersey Music Educators Association convention in February.  The two ensembles will participate in several instrumental clinics, a side-by-side performance with the Rutgers University Wind Ensemble, and perform a finale concert at the NJPAC in Newark, NJ. 
 
Congratulations!

December 18th, 2017
Dear Cherokee Chiefs,
                The Cherokee High School Instrumental Music Department directors and administration sponsored the participation of thirty-two instrumental music students for the 71st Annual All South Jersey Region III Band & Orchestra auditions on Saturday, December 16th, 2017.  Cherokee’s Orchestral Director, Mr. Mitchell Stowman and Band Director, Mr. D. Michael Lynch participated in the audition process as judges/moderators.  The auditions took place at Absegami High School in Galloway, NJ from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 
                The audition process starts long before the actual audition day.  Students, their directors, and their private instructors began studying the audition requirements for his/her specific instrument several months ahead of time.  The students spent countless hours learning, practicing, and perfecting each aspect of the audition.  Each student is required to perform all twelve major scales and/or selected percussive rudiments, a chromatic scale, two selected solo excerpts, and a challenging short piece that will be sight-read on the day of the audition.  In preparation of the audition, the students met with their directors and participated in mock auditions.  These mock auditions gave each student the opportunity to workout nerves by performing for their peers, and also an opportunity to share tactics, strategies, and past experiences with each auditioning participant.
                The Directors and music parents of the Cherokee Instrumental Music Department are very proud of each auditioning student.  Although not every student is accepted into a performing honors ensemble, the experienced gained through the audition process is guaranteed to provide heightened skills in musicianship and invaluable life lessons.  Thank you to all for the support shown toward these talented young musicians.  The audition results are listed below:

All South Jersey Wind Ensemble:                        All South Jersey Symphonic Band:
Alex Kaup – 3rd Chair; Clarinet                             Sarah Walsh – 3rd Chair; Oboe
Meghan Correll – 1st Chair; Alto Clarinet            Alexis Cherby – 3rd Chair; Bassoon
Tae Kim – 1st Chair; Soprano Sax                          Jihyung Kim – 1st Chair; Clarinet
Alex Kaup – 2nd Chair; Alto Sax                             Matt Goffin – 1st Chair; Alto Sax             
Tae Kim – 1st Chair; Tenor Sax                               Tae Kim – 2nd Chair; Alto Sax
Noelle Warchol – 2nd Chair; French Horn            Bailey Trace – 2nd Chair; Bari Sax
Carly Morton – 3rd Chair; French Horn                Gillian McGovern – 8th Chair; Trumpet
Ryan Block – 2nd Chair; Tuba                                  Joshua Free – 9th Chair; Trumpet
Ian Aquino – 4th Chair; Battery Percussion          Grace Fox – 12th Chair; Trumpet
Ian Aquino – 2nd Chair; Mallet Percussion            Chris Zurzolo – 2nd Chair; Battery Percussion
                                                   
All South Jersey Chamber Ensembles:                  All South Jersey Orchestra:
Alex Kaup – 1st Chair; Clarinet Choir                      Matt Wong – 4th Chair; Cello
Jihyung Kim – 3rd Chair; Clarinet Choir                 Mitchell Goodman-Sprouse – 3rd Chair; Bass
Matt Goffin – 1st Chair; Sax Quartet                       Patricia Dzwill – 4th Chair; Bass              
Tae Kim – 2nd Chair; Sax Quartet                            Alexis Cherby – 3rd Chair; Bassoon
Noelle Warchol – 1st Chair; Woodwind Quintet     Alex Kaup – 3rd Chair; Clarinet
Carly Morton – 1st Chair; Brass Quintet                  Noelle Warchol – 1st Chair; French Horn
Ian Aquino – 1st Chair; Percussion Ensemble          Carly Morton – 2nd Chair; French Horn
Chris Zurzolo – 3rd Chair; Percussion Ensemble     Ian Aquino – 1st Chair; Mallet Percussion
   
PERFORMANCE DATES/TIMES:
H.S. Orchestra & Jr. High Strings Concert – Sunday, January 7th; 3 PM @ Rowan University
Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band Concert – Sunday, January 14th; 3 PM @ Rowan University
Chamber Ensemble Concert – Wednesday, February 7th; 7:30 PM @ Cedar Creek H.S.
 
 

Band Students by the numbers...
    Band Students have a:
                                                  17.3% higher graduation rate 
                                                          8.4% higher attendance rate 
                                                                 63 points higher SAT Verbal score
                                                                         44 points higher SAT Math score
Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be 
                              admitted to medical school!!!
​​Sources: Keep Music Education Strong,   Music Makes the Grade

​AMA: AMA, short for American Music Abroad, is an amazing program that allows a concert band and a concert choir to travel all over Europe. They have the opportunity to perform in many different venues for various audiences, which have very foreign lifestyles from our own. This year during the 2014 summer vacation, the ensembles visited five different countries- Italy, Austria, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Some of the cities included: Zurich, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, Milan, Salzburg, Dinkelsbuhl, and Dachau. Tracy Peng, one of two Cherokee students who participated in the tour this summer, stated that “This trip was the experience of a lifetime. It gave me the opportunity to perform in beautiful venues, and seeing the local people respond so positively to the music we made was amazing. This tour is really unique in the way that it is not only a cultural experience, but a musical one as well. One of my favorite cities was Salzburg in Austria, which also happens to be the setting of the Sound of Music as well as the birthplace of Mozart. During the three weeks of the tour, I made memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life”. The other student from Cherokee, Mariah Vargo, described “I feel that overall as a person it gave me a better perspective of the world and how people go about their daily lives. It opened my eyes to different cultures, architecture, and languages that were so beautiful. Yet what I will take away from the experience the most are the memories and friends that I have made, along with an impact it has made on my life”. Everyone that has gone on the trip has taken away something individually impactful and unique to himself/herself; anyone could benefit greatly from attending this incredible journey.

December 12th, 2016
The Cherokee High School Instrumental Music Department directors and administration sponsored the participation of thirty-two instrumental music students for the 70th Annual All South Jersey Region III Band & Orchestra auditions on Saturday, December 10th, 2016.  Cherokee’s Orchestral Director, Mr. Mitchell Stowman and Band Director, Mr. D. Michael Lynch participated in the audition process as judges/moderators.  The auditions took place at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees, NJ from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 
           
The audition process starts long before the actual audition day.  Students, their directors, and their private instructors began studying the audition requirements for his/her specific instrument several months ahead of time.  The students spent countless hours learning, practicing, and perfecting each aspect of the audition.  Each student is required to perform all twelve major scales and/or selected percussive rudiments, a chromatic scale, two selected solo excerpts, and a challenging short piece that will be sight-read on the day of the audition.  In preparation of the audition, the students met with their directors and participated in mock auditions.  These mock auditions gave each student the opportunity to workout nerves by performing for their peers, and also an opportunity to share tactics, strategies, and past experiences with each auditioning participant.

The Directors and music parents of the Cherokee Instrumental Music Department are very proud of each auditioning student.  Although not every student is accepted into a performing honors ensemble, the experienced gained through the audition process is guaranteed to provide heightened skills in musicianship and invaluable life lessons.  Thank you to all for the support shown toward these talented young musicians.  The audition results are listed below:
​
All South Jersey Wind Ensemble:               All South Jersey Symphonic Band:
Alex Kaup – 6th Chair; Clarinet                        Sarah Walsh – 4th Chair; Oboe
Matt Antes – 1st Chair; Bari Sax                      Robin Choi – 11th Chair; Clarinet
Carly Morton – 3rd Chair; French Horn            Alexis Cherby – 3rd Chair; Bass Clarinet
Dave Mosko – 1st Chair; Trombone                Bailey Trace – 2nd Chair; Tenor Sax           
James Weiss – 1st Chair; Bass Bone              Kiersten Montenero – 2nd Chair; Bassoon
James Weiss – 3rd Chair; Tuba                       Joseph Bednarek – 12th Chair; Trumpet     
                                                                        Gillian McGovern – 13th Chair; Trumpet   
                                                                        Noelle Warchol – 4th Chair; French Horn
                                                                        Jake Hyzy – 1st Chair; Battery Percussion                   
                                                                         Ian Aquino – 2nd Chair; Battery Percussion                                                           

All South Jersey Chamber Ensemble:              All South Jersey Orchestra:        
Alex Kaup – 3rd Chair; Clarinet Choir                   Veda Lin – 14th Chair; Violin   
Matt Antes – 1st Chair; Sax Quartet                      Alexis Hartman – 36th Chair; Violin
Carly Morton – 1st Chair; Brass Quintet                Emily Davis – 38th Chair; Violin            
Dave Mosko – 1st Chair; Brass Quintet                 Matt Wong – 7th Chair; Cello
James Weiss – 2nd Chair; Tuba/Euph Quartet      Patricia Dzwill – 9th Chair; Bass
Jake Hyzy – 3rd Chair; Percussion Ensemble       Lindsay Fischer – 2nd Chair; Bassoon
Ian Aquino – 4th Chair; Percussion Ensemble      Kiersten Montenero – 3rd Chair;Bassoon
                                                                              Alexis Cherby – 1st Chair; Bass  Clarinet
                                                                              Carly Morton – 2nd Chair; French Horn
                                                                              Noelle Warchol – 5th Chair; French Horn    
                                                                              Dave Mosko – 1st Chair; Trombone