Watkinson School junior Chanjoo Kim of West Hartford, has been selected for one of the National Association for Music Education 2018 All-National Music Ensembles.

Submitted by Jenni French, Watkinson School

Chanjoo Kim of West Hartford, a junior at Watkinson School is one of the 551 students from 49 states and territories chosen to showcase his talents at a national event in Orlando, FL, in late November.

During the 2017-18 school year, along with other talented music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools, Chanjoo practiced with dedication to gain a chair or part in his local, district, and state music honor ensembles.

And now Chanjoo will join the “best of the best” for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2018 All-National Honor Ensembles  Nov. 25-28, 2018, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. Chanjoo will perform with the Symphony Orchestra on November 28, in the ballroom at Disney Coronado Springs Resort.

Chanjoo has been playing the trombone for seven years. Throughout middle school and high school, he has had various successes on the regional and state levels, sometimes for both classical and jazz trombone. He has also tried other instruments such as the piano, the tuba, and the trumpet. Along with participating in his school’s music program, he is a member of different chamber groups and ensembles at the Hartt School, in the University of Hartford.

The All-National Honor Ensembles performers represent collaboration and creativity in its highest musical form. The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a jazz ensemble, mixed choir, guitar ensemble (new this year), symphony orchestra, and concert band. Students were chosen through an audition process. The symphony orchestra has 122 instrumentalists.

Eligible students have qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and competed against top students for a spot in these national honor ensembles.

Selected students will be rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the baton of five of the most prominent conductors in the United States with the symphony orchestra working with Dr. Jean Montès. All conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.

The National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. With more than 60,000 members, the organization is the national voice of music education in the United States.

Watkinson School is Hartford oldest independent school for grades 6-12/PG. Learn more at an upcoming info session for prospective families on either Nov. 30 or Dec. 14 at 9 a.m.

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