Mendham, Chester Students Honored For Outstanding Musical Talent

Three students from Mendham and Chester were among those honored by the Mayo Performing Arts Center as a November Music Student Of The Month for being outstanding brass players.

Sydney Pappas, an eighth grader at Black River Middle School, Daniel Mills, a senior at Mendham High School, and Patrick Rooney, an eighth grader at Mountain View School, were honored on stage before the Nov. 26 concert at Mayo PAC. All the students were nominated by their teachers and chosen by Mayo PAC's education department. At the end of the year, all honored students will be invited to perform in a recital.

Here is what Tim Beadle had to say about Daniel Mills:

Dan Mills is of course a fin French horn player who has worked very hard to improve over the last four years. He has carried our mellophone section in marching band, led our symphonic band and advanced wind ensemble, organized our brass ensemble and even played trumpet in our big band. But what makes Dan even more valuable to the band program is his seemingly unending enthusiasm for music, music tech, and music performance. Dan is always the heart and soul of the ensemble whether it is a few students reading quintets after school or a hundred standing on a marching field.

Here is what Leigh Carpenter had to say about Patrick Rooney:

Patrick has such a passion for playing the trumpet. His is proactive in asking for help when he has challenges in learning or understanding. He looks up new things to learn and comes in to class asking to work on increasingly complex music. He is an excellent peer leader. He leads by example. Patrick comes into class positively and inspires other students to want to learn. He also leads by action. When students get off task he takes it upon himself to help refocus them. Patrick's maturity to pursue what he values and to be a wonderful influence on his peers is admirable. He is a wonderful young man of character deserves this honor.

Here is what Kenneth Piascik had to say about Sydney Pappas:

Sydney Pappas is the definition of a well-rounded, dedicated, and talented musician. Sydney joined the music program with her trumpet in 6th grade and has never stopped growing as a musician, person, and leader over the past three years. Her journey includes performing in every regular and honors ensemble offered at the school, advancing to one of the highest members of the "Music Level Program" and mentoring our younger 6th grade students. Her leadership skills also extend to her membership in the "Musician's Round Table" where the top players in the band discuss how we can improve our instrumental program. Her positive attitude radiates to the other players and inspires the band to perform at higher levels.

FIRST ROW Madison Malone Grade 8, Richard Butler School; Butler; Josh Freiheiter Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Randolph; Jacob Jennings Grade 8, John Hill School; Boonton; Nathan Lee Grade 7, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Sydney Pappas Grade 8, Black River Middle School; Chester; Emma McDonald Grade 12, Roxbury High School; Roxbury; SECOND ROW Daniel MillsGrade 12, Mendham High School; Mendham; Andrew Lie Grade 12, Parsippany High School; Parsippany; Ryan Parichuk Grade 8, Mount Olive Middle School; Chester; Alex Yip Grade 10, Morristown High School; Morristown; THIRD ROW Aaron Caso Grade 8, Rockaway Valley School; Boonton Township; Patrick Rooney Grade 8, Mountain View School; Mendham; Mitchell Polevoy Grade 12, Kinnelon High School; Kinnelon