PHS musicians compete in jazz festival.
By: Matt Kirdahy
For the second time in less than a month, the members of the Princeton High School Studio Band took home the top prize due in no small part to the efforts of seven Cranbury musicians.
They took first place at the Dunellen Invitational Jazz Festival on April 11, just three weeks after being voted America’s best high school band at the America’s Best High School Jazz Competition.
The band was scheduled to compete again next month at an international competition in Toronto, but canceled due to an outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus more popularly known as SARS.
The band won first place at the international competition last year.
Joseph B. Downey, band co-director, said the band could be seen at its next concert on May 30.
Band member Nick Cusworth of Cranbury said he is proud of the band’s success. Nick is a sophomore at Princeton High School and plays the saxophone.
"It’s a really good feeling," Nick said about winning back-to-back band competitions. "I really love working in the band, as frustrating and stressful as it is sometimes, because it forces you to reach your fullest potential. After winning the competitions, you have this enormous sense of satisfaction and pride."
Fellow band member Graham MacDonald, also from Cranbury, said playing with such a skilled group of kids is a new experience for him. Graham is a sophomore at PHS and also plays the saxophone.
"It feels great to have so many people cheering for you and support you, even though the performance is not as good as you wanted it," Graham said. "It’s actually very nerve racking before you perform, but while performing, I sort of get into a calm confidence, because I know that I can do it."
At the state competition at Dunellen High School, the PHS band competed against eight regional bands in a 30-minute set to earn first place. In addition to receiving the best band award, the woodwind section featuring Graham, Nick and fellow Cranbury resident Richa Gawande won for best woodwind section and Mohak Mhatre of Cranbury won for best piano solo. She is a senior at PHS who also won for best piano at the national competition in Washington, D.C.
Nick also won as a soloist for his saxophone play. Kevin Golisano of Cranbury, a junior at PHS, won a solo award for his play on bongos and congas.
Preeti Mehta, a senior trombone player, and Chris Wittman, a freshman trumpet player, also are from Cranbury.
Under the direction of Anthony Biancosino and Mr. Downey, the young band practices about three times a week for months to prepare for each competition. Mr. Downey said the band that sometimes practices on weekends has displayed "excellent" ability.
"The kids are super motivated," Mr. Downey said. He started assisting Dr. Biancosino with performances in October 2002.
He said the band chooses its set list for a competition only a couple of weeks prior to the show date. The band’s specialty is site reading, which is not an easy thing to do, said Mr. Downey. Most musicians need time to practice a musical piece before performing it, and the PHS band can just play on the spot.
"We have a young band and we’ve worked real hard to make it happen," Mr. Downey said about the recent accolades the band has garnered at each competition. "It’s looking really good. They’re hot."

