As the 2014-2015 school year draws to a close here in Verona, the seniors of Verona High School are anticipating the bigger and better things they will be moving on to after they graduate in June. Many will be headed off to colleges both statewide and nationwide to study the subjects they are particularly passionate about in pursuit of a career in their respective field. Three such seniors, as students of the VHS’s prestigious band and chorus programs, have chosen music for their future career paths.

Jonathan Pinon (the author of this article) will be graduating to William Paterson University, located in Wayne, and will be undertaking their renowned Sound Engineering Arts program. Pinon is best known for his contributions to the band, first on trumpet and later on baritone/euphonium, as well as becoming the baritone section leader of the Verona Marching Maroon and White during their 2014 season. Along with its reputation for efficiency, the SEA program is also known for being relatively selective, accepting only 12-13 students a year. Pinon became one of these chosen few students after an exemplary audition on euphonium for the program’s classical track (as opposed to the jazz track). In addition to being accepted to the SEA program, Pinon’s academic performance landed him a place in WP’s Honors College, which includes around 400 among WP’s 11,500 students.

In addition to baritone/euphonium, Pinon also enjoys playing guitar outside of school. He aspires to become a recording and performing artist in his future, and he selected a major in sound engineering as a means to provide him with in-depth exposure to music and hands-on experience in working with it, which he believes will foster an increased understanding and appreciation of music, as well as providing him with a practical career.

Alex Fielder, who will also become a part of William Paterson’s music program in the fall of 2015, will be pursuing a B.A. in Music with Popular Music Emphasis. Fiedler has been active in the Verona chorus through all four years of high school, including the Jazz Choir this year. However, he is dreaming big as he wishes to set his own musical career in motion. Under the current moniker of Sp!rit, Fiedler writes and produces his own original electro-pop music with influences from popular artists such as Lady Gaga to heavy metal and television music (especially the soundtracks of anime such as Fairy Tail and Soul Eater). Much like many artists, Fiedler desires fame, but for an entirely different reason than one might expect; he strives to inspire creativity and individuality throughout the world. “Music was there for me when no one else was,” says Fiedler. “It keeps me going and gives me power.” After everything music has done for him, he wishes to give back to it by becoming a part of it.

Fiedler is slated to release his official debut EP Hero Spirit during the summer of 2015. Additionally, his pet project Black Wings is expected to see release sometime in the near future.

Amanda Morden, the daughter of Verona music educator and professional trumpet player Max Morden, will be pursuing a major in music education as well as performance at Montclair State University. Morden has been thoroughly involved in every aspect of the Verona music program; she primarily plays the flute in the band and is a member of the chorus as well as the Jazz Choir. Additionally, she also held a leadership position in the Marching Maroon and White as an assistant drum major. Furthermore, she is among five seniors who have participated in the Verona Jazz and Beyond program headed by her father through all four years of high school, contributing both flute playing and vocals. Much like the way her father specializes in brass, Morden wishes to become a specialist in woodwinds, and so she is attempting to learn as many woodwind instruments as possible.

Alongside her aforementioned musical pursuits, Morden also would like to perform in the orchestral pit on Broadway. “There’s nothing I love more,” Morden stated, “than music that takes you away from one world and puts you in another.”