Cuyahoga Falls City School District is thrilled to announce that two talented student musicians from Cuyahoga Falls High School (CFHS) have been selected to perform with the prestigious 2025 Ohio All-State Jazz Ensemble. This achievement follows a rigorous audition process open to high school musicians from across Ohio. The selected students, Noah Adkins, a senior, and Ayden Stevens, a sophomore, will showcase their talents as part of the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Professional Development Conference in Cleveland in February 2025. This annual conference is among the largest in the United States, drawing music education professionals from across the state and the nation to celebrate and advance music education.
About the Students:
Noah Adkins is a senior at CFHS, where he performs with the Gold Tones and Symphonic Band. Noah is also actively involved with the Cleveland Youth Orchestra, Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, and the University of Akron Community Trombone Choir. Under the guidance of Dr. Lauren Rudzinskas, trombone professor at the University of Akron, Noah has honed his skills to become an accomplished trombonist.
Ayden Stevens, a sophomore at CFHS, performs with both the Gold Tones and Symphonic Band. He also showcases his talent as a member of the Tri-C JazzFest Academy Big Band and JazzFest Academy Small Group in Cleveland. In addition, Ayden is an active performer, playing in various duos, trios, and quartets at venues around Northeast Ohio. His jazz studies are under the mentorship of Grant Heineman, an accomplished vocalist and jazz pianist.
"We are incredibly proud of Noah and Ayden for this well-deserved recognition," said Principal Jason Smith. "Their dedication and talent truly reflect the strength of our music program here at Cuyahoga Falls City School District. We look forward to their outstanding performances in Cleveland this February."
The OMEA conference performance is a significant milestone for Noah, Ayden, and the entire CFHS music community, highlighting the district's commitment to fostering exceptional musical talent and supporting students’ artistic aspirations.
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