Huntington Senior Selected for All-National Ensemble
Mikah Feldman-Stein takes music seriously. So seriously that the Huntington High School senior plans to miss his own graduation after being selected as one of only two high school alto saxophonists in the country for the All-National Jazz Ensemble concert in Washington, D.C.
"I'm very proud of the honor," Mr. Feldman-Stein said. He merely shrugged as if to say it was no big deal when asked if it was really true that he would be missing Huntington's June 24 commencement exercises to participate in concert and related festivities.
"This is an extraordinary honor," said Joan R. Fretz, Huntington's district director of fine and performing arts. "All-National is two levels of achievement above All-State. Students in All-State are eligible for All-Eastern division groups. Very few students are ever considered for All-National.
Remarkably, Huntington had another All-National participant last year when now-senior Mary-Liz O'Neill was accepted to the national chorus. She sang at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Feldman-Stein will perform with the 20-member All-National Honor Jazz Band under the direction of Fred Irby III at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in a concert with the U.S. Army Blues. The facility boasts a 16,000 square foot ballroom.
The MENC All-National Honor Ensembles will be held in and around the Washington, DC area during Music Education Week, June 23-27. MENC is the national association for music education. In addition to jazz, there will be honor band, orchestra and choir performances.
Mr. Feldman-Stein will play alongside an elite group of high school musicians. "This is an incredible honor, since there are thousands of music students in All-State and regional festivals across the entire country," Ms. Fretz said.