Bach to Bebop Music School
Honor Band Recognition
All County · All District · All State · All Region Jazz
University Acceptances · Jazz ensembles (TYJB) · Triangle Youth Music ensembles
John's high school students have been accepted into competitive music programs at:
Specific student acceptances include:
Ben Azevedo — Belmont University Commercial Music Performance (saxophone) & UNC Greensboro Jazz Performance Program
Marissa Jensen — Berklee School of Music & UNC Wilmington
Bob Longest — ECU Music Program
(Student) — NC School of the Arts, Fall 2009
(Student) — UNT Jazz Camp (under Alan Baylock) full scholarship, Spring 2026
One of John's current high school jazz students has compiled an extraordinary record of achievement:
HS = High School · No code = Middle School
A high school sophomore earned All Region Jazz A Band on Tenor (All State Jazz Eligible) and a double placement in the UNC-G Honor Band on both alto and tenor saxophone. Also awarded a full scholarship to UNT Jazz Camp under director Alan Baylock. Additional achievements include 1st Tenor in the Triangle Youth Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble 1st Tenor (as both a freshman and continuing sophomore), All-District on alto, and Featured Quartet Soloist in the school's award-winning marching band show.
A high school freshman won 1st chair All State tenor sax. A high school junior won All District Band alto saxophone and UNCG Honors Band 1st chair alto sax. A 7th-grade middle school student won 3rd chair All State bass clarinet and All District Symphonic Band bass and Bb clarinet. Two middle school flute students made Concert Band All District.
A high school sophomore won 1st chair All State alto sax with the highest score of any instrument in the competition. An 8th-grade middle schooler won 1st chair All State tenor sax, also with the highest score of any instrument. A high school senior won All District Band saxophone. Another middle schooler won 1st place Concert Band All District on tenor sax. 6th and 8th-grade clarinet players made All District and the Triangle Youth Orchestra.
A high school freshman won All State alto sax symphonic band and All State jazz band — a remarkable double. A high school senior won All District Band. Two 7th-grade middle schoolers took the top two symphonic band tenor sax positions at All District. A student won the RAFA flute division.
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 9–12 band — HS | Rachel Turnbell (12th grade) | Tenor sax |
| 1st alternate 9–12 band — HS | Sarah LaWall (10th grade) | Baritone sax |
| 1st chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (8th grade) | Tenor sax |
| 1st chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 4th chair symphonic band | Robert Warner (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 2nd chair concert band | Sherry Tang (8th grade) | Flute |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 1st chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (8th grade) | Tenor sax |
| 2nd chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 8th chair symphonic band | Sherry Tang (8th grade) | Flute |
| 2nd chair concert band | Luke Price (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 1st alternate | Robert Warner (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 6th alternate | Sherry Tang (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (7th grade) | Tenor sax |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 5th chair symphonic band — HS | Bob Longest (12th grade) | Alto sax |
| 2nd chair symphonic band — HS | Rachel Turnbull (11th grade) | Tenor sax |
| 7th alternate — HS | Aaron Morrison (10th grade) | Alto sax |
| 1st alternate — HS (Johnston County) | Ecklund Maynard (9th grade) | Flute |
| 5th chair symphonic band | Taylor Webb (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 1st chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (7th grade) | Tenor sax |
| 4th chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (7th grade) | Alto sax |
| 1st alternate | Adam Carrera (8th grade) | Baritone sax |
| 14th alternate | Luke Price (7th grade) | Alto sax |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd chair symphonic band | Mariela Versola (7th grade) | Alto sax |
| 3rd chair symphonic band | Taylor Webb (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| Concert band | Adam Carrera (8th grade) | Baritone sax |
| 1st alternate | Deborah Kiserov (6th grade) | Alto sax |
| 3rd alternate | Luke Price (7th grade) | Alto sax |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 4th chair symphonic — HS | Bob Longest (11th grade) | Alto sax |
| 5th chair symphonic | Lee Sommerfield (8th grade) | Flute |
| 7th chair symphonic | Audrey Chang (7th grade) | Flute |
| 10th chair symphonic | Peter Zhu (8th grade) | Flute |
| 2nd chair concert | Michele Lewis (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 2nd alternate | Matt Geiger (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 8th alternate | Cole Calva (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 7th alternate | Richard Yount (8th grade) | Tenor sax |
| 10th alternate | Jacob Dekker (8th grade) | Clarinet |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 6th chair symphonic | Audrey Chang (7th grade) | Flute |
| 3rd chair concert | Lee Sommerfield (8th grade) | Flute |
| 1st chair concert | Jason Cohen (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 4th chair concert | Matt Geiger (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 4th alternate | Mariela Versola (6th grade) | Alto sax |
| 5th alternate | Cole Calva (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| Alternate | Jacob Dekker (8th grade) | Clarinet |
| Alternate | Richard Yount (8th grade) | Tenor sax |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd chair symphonic | Aaron Morrison (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 4th chair symphonic | Matt Geiger (7th grade) | Alto sax |
| Alternate | Roger Babson (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| Concert band | Lee Sommerfield (8th grade) | Flute |
| Achievement | Student | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd chair concert | C. Grimes (8th grade) | Flute |
| 1st chair concert | A. Morrison (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 4th chair concert | Matt Geiger (7th grade) | Alto sax |
| 1st alternate | Roger Babson (8th grade) | Alto sax |
| 4th alternate | V. Edebach (8th grade) | Alto sax |
Join a tradition of excellence. Contact John to discuss lessons for your student.
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