PHS senior wins competition;

to perform at Kimmel Center

 

By Petra Chesner
Schiatter
Staff Editor

Senior clarinetist Ananthi Rajamoorthi, a Lower Makefield resident and a senior at Pennsbury High School, recently won the Pennsbury Symphonic Winds (PSW) Soloist Competition. She will be the soloist when the PSW performs at the Kimmel Center on May 22.
“I was extremely happy at being chosen as the winner of the Soloist Competition,” she said, “This is a very big honor, as I, along with Symphonic Winds will be performing at the Kimmel Center for our spring concert in May.”
The winner of the competition receives a $500 scholarship from Pennsbury Instrumental Music Boosters. This is Pennsbury’s second annual Senior Soloist Competition.
At the Kimmel Center, she will perform “Rahoon, A Rhapsody for Clarinet and Band” composed by Alfred Reed.
“It is a beautiful piece and I am looking forward to performing it along with the band at the Kimmel Center,” she said.
Ananthihas been playing the clarinet for nine years and has participated in a variety of music-oriented activities since middle school.
Ananthi has represented Pennsbury in the prestigious Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All- District, All-Regional, AllState Bands and Orchestra on clarinet. She is the pianist for the Jazz Band and is a member of the Clarinet Chamber Ensemble. She is marching band sergeant, clarinet section leader; and performs in the Pit Orchestra. “By participating in these activities, I have not only grown as a musician, but also as an individual who has experienced and learned that certain values are essential in being a leader and a team-worker, such as patience, maturity, responsibility, and compassion.”
Ananthi attributes much of her success to her teachers. “Mr. (Frank) Mazzeo, the Pennsbury High School band director, has been my band teacher since elementary school, and I have yet to meet a teacher who is more excited and passionate about his teaching and music professions.”
On behalf of all Pennsbury band students, Ananthi thanked Mazzeo; Mark Capriotti, associate band director at Pennsbury High
School; and all band parents for “providing us with so many amazing opportunities in the music field.
“A few examples include our (marching band’s) trip to Hong Kong this spring and our spring concert at the Kimmel Center,” she said.
Ananthi described the PSW Senior Soloist Competition this year as “a wonderful experience.” As’ a candidate, she was responsible for signing a letter of intent, writing a resume of music achievements, as well as an essay on how music has been a significant aspect in her life, The audition meant performing in front of Mazzeo; Capriotti; Suzanne Schmidt, the music theory teacher in Pennsbury High School; and Nancy VanDerBas, a music and chorus teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School.
“It was a privilege for me to audition in front of four amazing teachers/directors, and I would like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. VanDerBas for being there as she was my music teacher in elementary school.”
Frank Mazzeo said of Ananthi: “She is oneofthe hardest working students we have ever had. The only thing better than her playing is her positive personality.”
At a December Pennsbury school board meeting, Pennsbury district CEO Dr. Paul Long reported another accomplishment of Ananthi’s: “Congratulations to Ananthi Rajamoorthi, winner of the 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer Student Citizenship Award.”
Ananthi, he said, “is a long-time volunteer in the community who has already won approximately 48 awards and recognitions for academics and community involvement.” Each winner from the Philadelphia region was invited to an awards ceremony held December 6 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.