During the 2020-21 school year, talented music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools practiced diligently to gain a chair or part in their local, district, and state music honor ensembles. Of those high school musicians who were accepted to their district or All-State music ensembles, 533 of them—the “best of the best”—were selected for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles. 

Students engaged in virtual sessions with composers and conductors January 22-24, and each ensemble created a final, recorded performance that will premiere online during the 37th NAfME Music in Our Schools Month® in March 2022.

Ensembles include the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Mixed Choir, Guitar Ensemble, and Modern Band.

Ten students from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) high schools were named to the 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles. They are:

Concert Band

• James Barker, Bass Clarinet, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
• Kian Choi, Clarinet 2, McLean High School.

Orchestra

• Jayden Liu, Clarinet 1, Oakton High School.
• Eshan Parkash, Violin 2, McLean High School.
• Cady Yu, Violin 1, South Lakes High School.
• Heidi Yu, Cello, South Lakes High School.

Mixed Choir

• Eric Bach, Bass 2, South County High School.
• Mariela Palencia, Soprano 1, Falls Church High School.
• Natalie Beasley, Soprano 2, South County High School.
• AJ Cantrell, Tenor 2, Langley High School.

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For more information, contact Katrina Chaney at [email protected].