Region 15 extends congratulations to all of these students for their excellent achievements in fine arts and music!

Pictured L-R: Caroline Cloud, Aliza Creel, Pearson Raistrick, Katherine Mombo, Isabella Ruiz, David Consiglio, Cana Kumi, Kyler Kumi, and Joshua Bang

Honored but not pictured: Juliana Yang, Stevie Bennett, Daniel Mardoff and Onpreeya Plandee.

Pomperaug High School Southern Regional Music Festival:

The following students from Pomperaug High School’s Choral and Instrumental programs were accepted into the 2022 Connecticut Music Educators Association Southern Regional Music Festival.  Each of the musicians submitted video recordings of prepared repertoire, that was adjudicated by professional certified musicians under the guidelines of the Student Affairs Commission for the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA).

Through this competitive adjudication process the following students below scored high enough to be accepted into the band, orchestra, treble chorus and mixed chorus. Joshua Bang - trumpet (Band), Aliza Creel - viola (Orchestra), Cana Kumi - voice (Treble Choir), Kyler Kumi - voice (Mixed Choir), Katherine Mombo - violin (Orchestra), Pearson Raistrick - cello (Orchestra), and Juliana Yang - violin (Orchestra).

Over 500 students participated in this festival representing over 30 high schools in the southern region of Connecticut. Each student accepted had the opportunity to attend rehearsals followed by a public performance held in early March. Their acceptance also provides each participant with the option to continue their musical excellence by auditioning for the CMEA All-State Music Festival Auditions. 

ALL-STATE Music Recognition:

Six students from Pomperaug High School (PHS) participated in and performed at the Connecticut Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival, a held in early April at the Hartford Marriott Downtown and the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. The following musicians participated:

Band: Joshua Bang (trumpet)

Orchestra: Aliza Creel (viola), Katherine Mombo (violin)

Voice: Cana Kumi (treble choir), Kyler Kumi (mixed choir), and Isabella Ruiz (mixed choir)

Each of the PHS musicians was chosen for this prestigious honor through a competitive adjudication process held this year across the state at four different regional area levels.  The tiered audition process begins with the Southern Region Music Festival, comprised of fifty public and private high schools from the southern portion of Connecticut. The results of this audition determine eligibility for participation in the CMEA Southern Region Music Festival in January.  

The students then move on to the All-State audition process where they compete with musicians across all the high schools in the state.  The students who score high enough are selected to participate in the All – State Festival.

These All-State students participated in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the CMEA Clinic/Convention. They performed for over one thousand attendees on Saturday April 2nd at the Hartford Convention Center bringing this extraordinary event to a close.

Since its inception in 1932, Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) includes over 1,000 professional music educators in the state. They are dedicated to providing programs and activities for professional educators, students and future music educators striving to enhance the quality of music education for all children. 

CONNECTICUT REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS: 

Three students from Pomperaug High School were recognized in a virtual awards presentation at the annual Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards, the largest juried student art exhibition in the state of Connecticut.  

Stevie Bennett received an honorable mention for the piece of art titled, “Woodland Vejigante” in the mixed media category; David Consiglio received an honorable mention for the piece of art titled “David” in the digital art category; and Daniel Mardof received an honorable mention for the piece of art titled, “Markus Plague” in the digital art category.

Their performance showcases the students’ talents and reflects the innovation of the creative art programs in the district.

Professional artists and University of Hartford art faculty judged over 1,500 Connecticut student art works in varied art media categories.  Artwork was selected on merit for inclusion in the statewide art exhibition that was held at the Hartford Art School. Beyond the honor of being selected for this exclusive exhibit, students were awarded gold or silver keys and honorable mention places in each of 18 media categories.

The ceremony can be viewed at:  https://youtu.be/4iiwxX2NDBg

The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards Program is a non-profit, all-volunteer activity, sponsored in conjunction in Connecticut by the CT Art Education Association, Inc and The Hartford Art School, University of Hartford.  This national program was originated to honor the creative efforts of grade 7 to 12 students in public, private and parochial schools; it is now the largest and most senior program of its type in the country.  

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOL ARTS AWARDS

Each year, Pomperaug High School nominates two students for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) High School Arts Award. CAS annually honors two outstanding seniors from each of the member schools in the state who excel in the performing or visual arts. Excelling in the performing or visual arts is of primary importance in the selection. Scholarship and Leadership are also supporting criteria.

This year, the Pomperaug High School Visual and Performing Arts Departments selected seniors Onpreeya Plandee and Pearson Raistrick to receive this award. The pair were honored at the 27th Annual Awards Ceremony and Banquet on Tuesday, April 5th at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

The Connecticut Association of Schools serves Connecticut's K-12 public and parochial schools in all areas of inter-school activity. CAS has emerged as an informed leader in Connecticut's educational system, providing services to Connecticut's schools in areas ranging from academics to athletics.  The association represents over 1,100 schools in the state.  The Connecticut Association of Schools is a non-profit organization located in Cheshire, Connecticut.