Red Bank Regional (RBR) student and Little Silver resident Matthew Rosen was recently named to the New Jersey All State Wind Ensemble. Matt, a sophomore and woodwind instrumental major in RBR’s Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (VPA), was named to the first chair, Best in State, on the Alto Clarinet. He also auditioned on two other instruments and was named second chair on both the bass clarinet and contra clarinet. He performed with the All State Symphonic Band at NJPAC on Saturday, February 25.
This accolade enables Matt to compete for a chair at the All Eastern Symphonic Band Competition. It also renders him eligible for a scholarship to the Mason Gross Symphonic Band camp at Rutgers University, which he will attend this summer.
“Making the All State Band has been a goal for me since I learned of these competitions as a freshman,” Matt commented in a press release. “I attribute much of my success to my high school band director, Ms. Kerry McNulty, and my local private teachers, Ms. Jennifer Brush and Mr. John Luckenbill.”
In addition to the RBR Band, Matt plays tenor sax in RBR’s Marching and Jazz Bands and soprano clarinet and bassoon in the Concert Band. He has performed in many school-related event ensembles. He also plays for the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra, performing with them at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. He also performs each year in the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove.
“I am thrilled to see such a tremendous accomplishment for a student like Matt Rosen who is exceptionally passionate about music and who possesses such an innate ability in the areas of low reed instruments,” RBR Band Director Kerry McNulty said. “Matthew is a truly dedicated student whose drive and overall work ethic will grant him many future successes in music. This is but one achievement of many to come for this talented young man.”
