12/14/2018

Senior Stefan Mason, above, plays viola in the band room on Nov. 30.
Mason made it into the All State Orchestra and will peform in concert
on Jan. 12 at the Tampa Convention Center (VALERIE BERTRAM | SNN)

By DARWIN COOVADIA
SNN Staff Writer

After much work and practice, two Lakewood High School students have been accepted into all-state ensembles.

Senior Alex Keshish is the only Pinellas County student selected for the All State Guitar Ensemble, and one of only 40 students in all of Florida. Keshish plays many other instruments besides guitar, including piano and clarinet. He’s played guitar for three and a half years and studies sheet music in his free time.

“I learn piano music on my own for fun, and I practice guitar pieces if I have an ensemble,” Keshish said.

Keshish wants to study music composition in college; however, he’s unsure about what career he’d like to pursue.

Although Keshish has never participated in All State, he has previously performed in All County.

When auditioning for All State, Keshish said he played a scale and a few short pieces for the judges alone. Keshish auditioned with two friends, who sat next to him when music teacher Jacob Merrett informed him of his acceptance.

“I was very excited. I didn’t know how to respond,” Keshish said.

The All State Guitar concert will be in early January at Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa.

Senior Stefan Mason was accepted along with 80 other kids into the All State Orchestra Ensemble. Mason auditioned for All State Orchestra back in September, performing Kreutzer 12, Berlioz Roman Carnival and varying scales on viola. Merritt recorded Mason playing and then sent the recording to official judges.

“I’ve been playing viola for six years. I started on piano, but I don’t play it anymore. I love the viola,” Mason said. “A big part of my college decision is if the college has a good orchestra, so I can minor or major in music. I want to still play in college.”

Mason has previous experience, performing in All State Honors last year and performing in All County five years in a row. He says he tries to practice every day for at least an hour.

“I honestly didn’t believe it because I know how competitive the competition is. I was shocked,” Mason said.

The All State Orchestra performance will also be in Jan. 12 at the Tampa Convention Center.

Merrett helped both students prepare for their audition, providing support the whole way through, and having the honor of informing them of their acceptances. Merrett said he wasn’t surprised that both were accepted, because he was confident in both of their abilities.

“Alex works very hard, and Stefan has been playing for a long time,” he said.

  In other music news, the following students made it into the 2018-2019 Pinellas All County bands and orchestra:

9th-10th grade concert band: Joshua Hempy, clarinet; Carson Miller, trumpet; Dante Giuffre, trumpet

11-12th grade symphonic band: Apollo Leavy, tuba, and Ernest Houston, bass trombone High school orchestra: Stefan Mason, viola, and Casey Miltner, violin