The Exeter Township School District was grateful and humbled to have been chosen once again as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation--an honor bestowed upon fewer than 800 schools throughout the nation who demonstrate outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. This is the 11th year that Exeter's received this honor, which is something that the Exeter's music department is especially proud to have received. "The recognition that we received is about the community. It's not just about our music department. It's all of the teachers, all of the parents, all of the students, all of the administrators and everybody who lives and works in Exeter," said Mrs. Melissa Crotty, the Junior High's music teacher and Exeter's music department chair.
Throughout local, regional and state events and performances, Exeter musicians won numerous accolades and ratings--proving yet again they were worthy of NAMM's awards. Below, our music department is thrilled to present the following highlights of this year's accomplishments by our musicians:
Senior High Marching Band
- The marching band enjoyed an active season performing our field show, “Finding Joy.” The music utilized themes from Beethoven and Dvorak’s 9th symphonies as well as other motives of musical joy. We are proud of the progress we made over the fall season. We are looking forward to the upcoming Memorial Day parade and honoring military families during the Exeter Township ceremony at Forest Hills. We are thrilled and looking forward to marching in Disney’s Magic Kingdom in December. Be sure to look out for our new uniforms later this fall!
Senior High Concert Band
- Since December, members of the concert band have enjoyed a more active winter and spring. The band was represented by Rob Tufariello (percussion), Nathan Bayer (French horn), Marissa Millar (trumpet), Faith Feldman (bass clarinet), Riley Mazur (trumpet), Ryan Cherry (trombone), and Ava Diaz (clarinet) in various MEBC and PMEA honors band festivals. In the month of March, the band traveled to Temple University to participate in the school of music’s Festival of Winds where we performed in the Temple Performing Arts Center and received clinics from world class musicians and conductors. This year’s spring concert culminated with a side by side performance with the historic Ringgold Band. It was an honor to perform with them in concert and also receive valuable feedback from respected community musicians.
Senior High Jazz Band
- The jazz band enjoyed great success this past winter and spring having performed at the Reading Royals, the Kuztown High School Jazz Festival, the Twin Valley High School Festival and the inaugural Get JazzED scholastic jazz show at the internationally known Berks Jazz Fest in March. The band had the honor of performing at the DoubleTree Hotel, receiving valuable feedback from world class musicians and getting an amazing experience performing on a professional, world class stage. The band is definitely looking forward to returning to the Berks Jazz Fest next year and making it a tradition for the Exeter program. Several band members were also recognized at our jazz shows for outstanding solo performances with the band: Ryan Cherry, Esteban Ruiz-Velazquez, and Rob Tufariello. We will conclude the school year with a Summer Send-Off Concert on Thursday, June 1st. This concert will be an outdoor performance at Owatin Creek’s amphitheater beginning at 6:30pm. Bring chairs, blankets, and your own food as we play into the evening with other Exeter musical acts.
Senior High Orchestra
- Orchestra has had a very good year for the 2022-2023 school year. We had a very successful Winter Concert. String Jam was a hit this year featuring all grade levels in the main gym, culminating in a performance of William Tell. In addition to our three major concerts, the Orchestra was thrilled to play for the Reiffton School. This year we had 14 students make Senior County Orchestra, 17 students make Junior County Orchestra, 2 students make District Orchestra, and 1 student make Region Orchestra. We are very proud of the achievements of these students.
- For our Chamber Strings students we enjoyed playing this year for the National Honors Society Induction Ceremony, and playing for the Reading Royals Exeter night along with our Junior High School chamber strings friends.
- We are excited to begin preparing for our trip to Disney World next school year.
Senior High Chorus & Concert Choirs
- The Senior High Chorus and Concert Choirs adjusted to having a long term sub while their chorale teacher was on sabbatical. They spent classroom time learning some basic music theory as well as preparing music for 2 concerts in December and May. The following students participated in the Berks County Music Festival for grades 10-12: Rob Tuffariello, Tyler Casiano, Collin Warner, Ryan Claudfelter, Rebecca Cherry, Sarah McCarthy and Raelin Tufariello. The following freshmen were selected and participated in the Berks Junior County Music Festival: Kaelyn Reynolds, Leoni Choy, Ava Diaz and Gavin Isselmann. Four students were selected and participated in the District 10 music festival: Rebecca Cherry, Ryan Claudfelter, Rob Tuffariello, and Tyler Casiano. Rebecca Cherry also was selected for the Regional Choral Festival.
Senior High Eaglaires
- The EagleAires performed for the Exeter senior citizens’ annual spring meeting in March, as well as in the school concerts and pep rallies throughout the year.
Junior High Chorus
- We had a very busy year performing at the Reading Royals, PA Renaissance Fair, the PA State Capitol as part of Music in our Schools Month, and the Fightin Phils. We competed in Hershey’s Music in the Parks where we placed 1st and earned the rating of Excellent. We also had nine students selected to participate in District 10 Intermediate Songfest and 14 students selected to perform with Berks County JHS County Chorus.
Junior High Orchestra
- Junior High School Orchestra has had another successful year. Our Winter Concerts were highly successful, and String Jam was a thrill. During String Jam, both the 7th and 8th grade students enjoyed combining to play together. We enjoyed playing for the Reading Royals Exeter Night along with our SHS Chamber Orchestra friends. We also competed in Hershey;s Music in the Parks where we placed 1st in our division, 1st overall, and earned the rating of Superior. We had 17 students participate in Junior County Orchestra and one of our Bass players was chosen to participate in District Band on String Bass. We wish the 8th graders a great Senior High School musical experience.
Junior High Band
- The Exeter Junior High School bands had an enjoyable and successful year. The 7th and 8th grade band members started the year by performing with the high school marching band at a football game. We have had two successful concerts and the year ended with the 8th grade band competing in Music in the Parks and Hershey and we placed in 2nd and received an excellent rating. Four of our band members represented our school at the Junior County Band festival and two members participated in PMEA District 10 band.
Elementary Schools
- Reiffton Chorus performed in the Winter and Spring concerts. Eight students participated in the first ever Elementary Choral Festival in March at Oley Valley Middle School.
- Elementary Strings and Band performed in their Winter and Spring concerts.
Individual Recognitions:
Senior High Orchestra:
- Frank Conte - MEBC Senior County Orchestra, PMEA District Orchestra, PMEA Regional Orchestra
- Emily Holliday - MEBC Senior County Orchestra, PMEA District Orchestra
- Nathan Bayer - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Esteban Ruiz - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Macy Feather - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Tyler Casiano - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- George Hajj - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Carson Frederick - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Jordan Wolfe - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Zach Kauffman - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Charlotte Rismiller - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Katie Hoover - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Dylann Backenstoss - MEBC Senior County Orchestra
- Kendall Druzba, MEBC JHS County Orchestra
- Simon Bolich, MEBC JHS County Orchestra
- Evan Harvey, MEBC JHS County Orchestra
- Peyton Klein, MEBC JHS County Orchestra
- Ava Diaz, MEBC JHS County Orchestra
- Andrew Schwenck, MEBC JHS County Orchestra
Senior High Band:
- Nathan Bayer - MEBC Senior County Band, PMEA District Band, PMEA Regional Band
- Robbie Tufariello - MEBC Senior County Band, PMEA District Band
- Faith Feldman - MEBC Senior County Band
- Riley Mazur - MEBC Senior County Band
- Ryan Cherry - MEBC Senior County Band
- Ava Diaz - MEBC JHS County Band
- Marissa Millar - MEBC JHS County Band
Senior High Choir:
- Becky Cherry - MEBC Senior County Chorus, PMEA District Chorus, PMEA Regional Chorus
- Robbie Tufariello - MEBC Senior County Chorus, PMEA District Chorus,
- Tyler Casiano - MEBC Senior County Chorus, PMEA District Chorus
- Ryan Claudfelter - MEBC SHS County Chorus, PMEA District Chorus
- Sarah McCarthy - MEBC SHS County Chorus
- Raelin Tufariello - MEBC SHS County Chorus
- Collin Warner - MEBC SHS County Chorus
- Daniel Pack - MEBC SHS County Chorus
- Ava Diaz, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Leoni Choy, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Kaelyn Reynolds, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Gavin Isselmann, MEBC JHS County Chorus
Junior High Orchestra:
- Logan Davis, 8th grade, Violin 1
- Dang Nguyen, 8th grade, Violin 1
- Aubrey Pallet, 8th grade, Violin 1
- Callista Schlappich, 8th grade, Violin 2
- Samantha Shipley, 8th grade, Viola,
- Morgan Kauffman, 8th grade Viola
- Gavin Skimski, 8th grade, Viola
- Grace Campling, 8th grade, Bass 1st chair
- Michael Jordan, 7th grade, Bass
- Lilly Jordan, 7th grade, Bass
- Edward Farrar, 8th grade, Bass
- Jillian Crotty, 8th grade, French Horn, 1st chair
- Adam Crotty, 8th grade, Trombone
Junior High Band:
- Jillian Crotty - MEBC JHS County Band, PMEA District Band
- Adam Crotty - MEBC JHS County Band
- Michael Jordan, MEBC JHS County Band
- Grace Campling, MEBC JHS County Band, PMEA District Band
Junior High Chorus:
- Evianna Jones, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Jacinda Motley, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Samantha Shipley, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Julianna McCarthy, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Jillian Crotty, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Callista Schlappich, MEBC JHS County Chorus, PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Grace Campling, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Logan Willauer, MEBC JHS County Chorus, PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Kaleb Schlappich, MEBC JHS County Chorus, PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Tanner Garrett, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Eddie Farrar, MEBC JHS County Chorus, PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Ajus Singh, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Adam Crotty, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Logan Hellwig, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Yuvraj Singh, MEBC JHS County Chorus
- Taylor Mack - PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Modallys Martinez - PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Giulia Weisser - PMEA Intermediate Songfest
- Kiana Whetzel - PMEA Intermediate Songfest
6th Grade Songfest
- Matthew Bardi,
- Ava Burkhart,
- Claire Delewski,
- Aurora Elias,
- Mason Foster,
- Colette Jordan,
- Melanie Karasek,
- Joelle Stoltzfus
Reading Music Foundation Merit Scholars:
- Harrison Brumbaugh, cello, 9th grade
- Scarlet Jordan, violin, 3rd grade
- Ryan Li, violin, 6th grade
- Michael Jordan, bass, 7th grade
- Grace Campling, bass, 8th grade
- Colette Jordan, flute, 6th grade
- Molly Nemirow, Exeter Alum
- Robert Tufariello, percussion, 12th grade
- Esteban Ruiz-Velazquez, jazz, 10th grade
