From staff reports
The John Paul II Catholic School music program hit all the right notes at the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) Music Festival held Thursday, March 13 at the University of South Carolina, earning top accolades for both ensemble and solo performances.
Under the direction of Choir Director Emily Brown and Band Director Victor Ney, the JPII Choir and Band delivered an outstanding showcase of talent, walking away with superior and excellent ratings.
“Both the small instrumental ensemble and the combined choir received gold (superior) ratings, a testament to their dedication and musicianship,” Brown said in a news release. “The instrumental ensemble wowed judges with its polished performances of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and ‘Blue Moon,’ demonstrating strong technique, steady tempo control, and dynamic instrumental and vocal solos.”
The JPII Choir impressed with its cohesion and artistry.
“The sopranos and altos received special recognition for their rendition of ‘O Love’ by Elaine Hagenberg, while their second piece, ‘Tres Cantos’ (arr. Marcos Leite), earned high praise for being both memorized and choreographed — an impressive feat that left a lasting impact on the judges,” Brown said.
The festival also highlighted the exceptional talent of JPII’s soloists:
Gold (Superior) Ratings: Bella del Mazo (11th), Hailey Heckert (11th), Zach Reardon (10th), Clare Jolley (9th), Kinzlee Minton (6th) – Vocal; Samantha Justini (7th) – Piano
Silver (Excellent) Ratings: Abigail Clarke (11th), Walker Benson (7th), Victoria Mouhalis (8th), Parker Melvin-Robinson (8th) – Vocal
“This was an exciting and memorable day for the JPII music department,” JPII President David Lima said. “We are so proud of our students and the hard work they put into these performances. Their passion for music truly shone through. With this triumphant showing at SCISA, the JPII music program continues to set the bar high, proving that dedication and teamwork lead to excellence.”
