HWS Announces 2020 Summer Music Scholarship Winners
The Hanover Wind Symphony (HWS) is proud to bestow scholarships upon two outstanding candidates this year: Zachary Solano in the Senior Division and Michael Minenna in the Junior Division. This is in line with our mission to support aspiring instrumentalists. Zack and Michael each gave an excellent audition and each one has a bright future in music.
Zachary Solano, a junior at Roxbury High school, will perform as a tuba soloist with the renowned wind band in the fall. Zack will use his scholarship to take private online lessons over the summer with Mike Roylance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dennis Nulty of Oberlin Conservatory and internationally renowned tubist Øystein Baadsvik.
“I began playing the tuba at the age of 11, and since then, my passion for the instrument has never faltered,” said Zach. “When I decided I wanted to pursue music as a career in 8th grade, the prospect seemed incredibly daunting. After talking to knowledgeable teachers and peers, it quickly became clear that to chase my dream of becoming an orchestral tuba player would mean risking everything, including my future livelihood. To me, however, the choice was easy. The only way I could ever feel fulfilled in life, I decided, was to become a professional musician. Failure was simply not an option.”
Among his many accomplishments, Zach was the Principal Tuba for the All-State Wind Ensemble (2020), North Jersey Region Orchestra (2020), New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Top Youth Ensemble (2019), North Jersey Region Band Wind Ensemble (2019), and the New Jersey Youth Symphony since 2019. At home, he plays in the Roxbury High School Honors Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Jazz Band (bass trombone).
Trumpet player Michael Minenna, is a member of Morris Knolls High School’s 9th Grade Concert Band and Jazz Band. Michael wants to become a professional musician, and will use his scholarship this summer to attend the Eastman Trumpet Online Workshop, offered by the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
“Ever since I played my first note in the 4th grade, I knew it was what I wanted to do when I grew up,” says Michael. “All the music that I have played is enjoyable. All the challenges I have faced and overcome in music are just amazing.”
Among the honor ensembles that Michael performed with are the North Jersey Region Symphonic Winds (2020), the North Jersey Junior High Area Band (2019), the North Jersey Junior Region Symphonic Winds (2019), and the North Jersey Junior High School Symphonic Orchestra (2019).
HWS is working to make this scholarship program self-sustaining through donations. Donations to the Hanover Wind Symphony Summer Music Scholarship Program can be made by clicking here. Donations may also be mailed to Hanover Wind Symphony, P.O. Box 100, Whippany, NJ 07981. Checks should be made payable to the Hanover Wind Symphony with “Scholarship Fund” in the memo line. Inquiries about the scholarship program may be emailed to info@hanoverwinds.org.
