Los Altos Town Crier » Blach music students top all others in state events

Image from article Blach music students top all others in state events

Their esprit de corps showing, Blach Intermediate School music students hoist their 10 trophies. From left, front: Claudia Soong and Katie Wong, eighth-grade chorus; Edwin Jeng, eighth-grade strings; Travis Clark, eighth-grade band; Teddy Peng, eighth-grade strings; Olivia Natan and Alexandra Westbrook, eighth-grade band; Arielle Lattanzi, eighth-grade strings. Back: Garth Van De Vanter, seventh-grade band; Daniel Khalessi, eighth-grade strings; Tommy Ashmore, seventh-grade band; Megan Magee, eighth-grade strings; Josh Oi, Neil Lingarkar and Joy Wai, eighth-grade band.

For the first time in the school’s history, Blach Intermediate School music students have won the top state-level award in their division, the Esprit de Corps. They also brought nine more awards home from the annual “Music in the Parks” competitions in Southern California in May.

“It felt like we won something so huge, like the whole world,” said eighth-grade flute player Neil Lingarkar.

The Esprit de Corps is an annual award to the school whose students show the most respect, sportsmanship and enthusiasm of all performing groups at the competition at Disneyland in Anaheim, held this year May 20-22.

“We were all in tears,” said Cathy Humphers-Smith, a group chaperone and the eighth-grade string group’s accompanist.

Blach’s eighth-grade strings and chorus competing in the event each received ratings of superior, first place, and best overall. The band received a first place excellent award.

“It was worth it!” said eighth-grade string player Teddy Peng of the group’s effort.

“It was outrageously weird,” added eighth-grader Amanda Lourdemann.

Blach’s seventh-grade musicians started the winning streak when they competed at Magic Mountain in Valencia, May 13-14. The strings and chorus each earned ratings of superior, first place, and received the awards for best overall orchestra and best overall choral group. The band took second place in the junior high division. Flutist Jenee Smith received a medal as outstanding student accompanist for her work with the chorus.