There’s an annual event hosted by the Central Jersey Music Educators Association involving the best of the best chosen band students. They had representatives from WMS for the first time since 2023. 

The actual event occurs every year since 2017, this year being at Monroe Township Middle School. 

Mrs. Maneri, the band teacher of WMS, called honors band a, “nomination band from Central Jersey Music Educators Association,” and the students chosen are “ high performers from our groups.”

Honors band from 8th grade nominee, Zhao-Xu Wang’s point of view is “a specific group of band kids that excel in their musical career.” Wang said it includes students that are, “very good at their instrument and dedicate their interests and time to their instrument.”

 Mrs. Maneri talked about 8th grade students Alex Cohen, Zhao Xu Wang who were nominated and the qualifications required to be a nominee, “I look for people that are responsible …… people that show dedication and skill for their instrument.”

Mrs. Maneri talked about the process of being chosen into the honors band. She said, “You are not [guaranteed to get picked]. They have hundreds of nominations so they take little bits and pieces from over I think 30 schools that are incorporated into it. Usually every school has one person representing it but we don’t always get everyone picked” 

8th grade nominee, Alex Cohen, talked about what the schedule was like for the day. Cohen said, “ [He]  practiced from the morning to the afternoon and had a really cool concert.” Cohen says when he was there he learned some, “cool fancy Italian music words.” 

Wang mentioned his schedule and what he did throughout the day. Wang said “[He] got there late, sat down next to the only bassoon player, made friends with him, played music, suffered, ate lunch, had a concert, then went home.”