West Essex Junior to Play Bassoon in National Band

West Essex High School junior Timothy Ruszala has been selected to play the bassoon in the National Association for Music Education All-National Concert Band. Timothy, a resident if Fairfield, is the first West Essex student to be selected for this prestigious group, which is composed of the top high school musicians from across the country.

Students must first audition for their region band. If they are selected for this group, they can then audition for their all-state group. Students selected for their all-state group can then submit an audition video for the national group.
“I was very surprised,” Timothy said, adding being selected for this group has taught him that if he works hard, it pays off. He has to send in another audition video for seating.

His audition was also a piece of baroque music, which Timothy notes is not one of his favorites. He is excited to play a “Solo de Concert” by Pierre, a romantic piece with the national group.

Timothy attributes his success to the West Essex Music Program. “The West Essex Band Program definitely helped me because of all of the support from all of the different staff members,” he said. “The West Essex Music Program has many different musical groups to choose from.”

Timothy plays in the following West Essex High School groups: concert bard, marching band, indoor percussion ensemble, brass ensemble and woodwind quartet. In addition, he has played in the North Jersey Area Band, the North Jersey Region Band and the New Jersey All-State Band.

Timothy will travel to Nashville, Tennessee from Oct. 26-29 where he will rehearse with other students in the band and then perform a concert at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Students will also perform in other national music honors groups: an All-National Jazz Ensemble, All-National Mixed Chorus and an All-National Symphony Orchestra.

West Essex High School Band Director John Scozzaro said he is very proud of Timothy. “Being selected to the All-National Concert band is the equivalent of a HS athlete to be named an All-American,” he said. “There has never been in a student from West Essex t ever be selected to this group.”

Scozzaro noted that Timmy has been on an impressive run the last three years. In the ninth grade, he was selected as 1st Chair Bassoon to the Junior Region Band. In 10th grade, he was 1st Chair Bassoon in the All-State Band. And as an 11th grader, he has been selected to the All-National Concert Band. This summer he also participated in a prestigious music camp held at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins.

“Timmy is a great student,” Scozzaro said. “He is what any teacher could possibly ask for. He is smart, funny, intuitive, kind, hard-working, and passionate. He goes out of his way to help everyone around him better. Many students with his type of talents are only focused on themselves and brag about their accomplishments.”

“Timmy continually asks what he can do to help his fellow band mates,” Scozzaro added. “He also would never come out and tell anyone that he has these great accomplishments under his belt. That’s just the type of person he is. Everyone in the band loves Timmy and we are all extremely proud of what he’s accomplished and couldn’t be happier for him.”

Information and photo courtesy of Allison Freeman