By Rick Morwick
For Carmel siblings Oscar and Joe Cronin, being selected to the All-State Jazz Ensemble is nothing new.
But the thrill never gets old.
“Being a part of the ensemble was a very fun experience for me,” said Oscar, a Carmel High School junior. “I got to work with some of the best young musicians from all over the state.”
Joe, a CHS freshman, echoed the sentiment.
“I was excited,” he said. “It’s a great experience to be working with a lot of other great players.”
Oscar and Joe were among 17 Hamilton County student-musicians who auditioned for, and were selected to, either the All-State Jazz Ensemble or the Junior All-State Jazz Ensemble. The ensembles performed at the Jan. 18 Indiana Music Educators Association Convention in Fort Wayne.
Oscar, a trombone player, was part of the All-State Jazz Ensemble, which is for grades 10 through 12. He was selected for the Junior All-State Ensemble, for grades 7 through 9, when he was an eighth-grader.
Joe, a drummer, made the Junior All-State Ensemble for the second straight year.
Both siblings perform in multiple bands at CHS and are avid jazz fans.
“I am a member of the Carmel High School Wind Symphony 1 and Jazz 1,” Oscar said. “I have participated in the Butler Youth Jazz program for several years and also am a member of Indy Jazz Futures. I also am the leader of my own jazz combo, Lowkeys Jazz.”
Oscar was joined on the All-State Jazz Ensemble by fellow CHS musician Charlie Harriman, who plays guitar. Noblesville High School students Grace Wiles (trombone) and Sam Eger (piano) also were part of the ensemble.
Joe, meanwhile, was joined on the Junior All-State Jazz Ensemble by the following local students: Conway Zhang (saxophone), Carmel Middle School; Ian Robison (saxophone), Hamilton Heights Middle School; Nate Cook (saxophone), Noblesville High School; Skyler Cole (saxophone), Zionsville Middle School; Addison Coons (lead trumpet), Zionsville Middle School; Connor Meinerding (trumpet), Noblesville High School; Tyler Siversten (lead trombone), Noblesville High School; Jonah McKnight (trombone), Zionsville Middle School; Sean Vitales (trombone), Noblesville High School; Nicholas Ok (piano), Noblesville High School; Andrew Matthews (guitar), Noblesville High School; and Jay Thornbury (bass), Noblesville High School;
For more, visit imeamusic.org.
