On May 21, members of the Cranston High School East music program’s community gathered for a night of honoring the hard work and dedication students and families put into the organization.

Awards were given to students and parents by Greg Arsenault, director of the bands at East.

The event opened with five pieces performed by the Jazz Ensemble, with student soloists. Arsenault mentioned that this school year was the first time the ensemble has been offered as a class during the school day.

“I’ve been kind of astounded at how they took to this, and having this three times a week for three hours or four and a half hours a week is tons more than we’ve done in years,” he said. “We can throw together a chart just in a couple of rehearsals because they’re that good.”

Arsenault recognized several school leaders and members of the community for their “amazing support” for the music program, including Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse, Assistant Superintendent Norma Cole, Cranston East Principal Sean Kelly, assistant principals Sandi Matoian-Heard, Chris D’Ambrosio, Joseph Potemri and Dave Aulenbach and Dean of Students Isa Tejada.

Arsenault also recognized members of the Cranston School Committee, including Stephanie Culhane, who he said is a “huge supporter” and volunteers for the program. He also thanked Cranston East Alumni Band Association members Sara Larrabee and Anthony Petrocchi, “who help out tremendously with events all through the year.”

Arsenault recognized the many members of the staff in the music program, including the band and indoor percussion staff; those who worked with the competitive band, such as Emma Hookway, Nick Schleyer, Joe Smith, Brendan Abrahamson, Brian Medbery, Rich Medeiros and John Rei; and those who worked with indoor percussion, including Abrahamson, Medbery, Victoria Pilon, Medeiros and Rei. He also thanked Roxanne Gustafson and Melissa Ruggieri for their work.

He also thanked Jean Ruggieri, who he called his “work wife.” He said she does “so much” and that she has reminded him of things to think about with the band.

“You’ve been around for I don’t know how many years,” he told her. “I can’t imagine the Thunderbolt Band program without you.”

After the acknowledgments, service awards were given out to the students involved.

One-year band members who received a certificate were Lucas Arsenault, Patrick DeMenezes, Oscar Duran, Zachary Madden, Charles Maguire, Andrew Maldonado, Dariel Marizan, Robert Miller III, Asialyna Orellana, Guillermo Pinto, Nathan Scarborough, Kyle Schmitz, Samuel Taveras Espinal, Jacob Tolentino and Jordan Wolf.

Two-year band members who received certificates included Sophia DiNaro, Vladimir Hakobyan, William Hardy, Maurice Holtzman, Valoric Julian, Samuel Kristiansen, Lily Maguire, Alek Roberti, Kaitlyn Schmitz, David Scarborough, and Brandon Venda. Roberti is a senior and also received a mug.

Three-year band members who received pins were Greyson Boudreau, Samuel Hinds, Samuel Hunt, Nadya Lehnert, Griffin Martin, Tyler McNeil, Alexis Rei, and Aggerlynn Vetiaque. Three-year Emerald Encore members included Tessa Bellotti and Delia Maguire, and Maguire received a mug as well for being a senior.

Four-year band members were Jeremiah Coss, Joshua Deland, Roland Hanson, Bernadette Linsangan, Patrick Maguire, Jacob McLane, Daniel Norridge, and Troy Santopadre. Four-year Emerald Encore members were Sebastian Borgia and Domenic Fusco III.

One five-year member, Peter Vannini, was honored as well and is also a graduating senior.

Next up was all-state recognitions. According to Arsenault, Hardy was selected for the Senior All-State Orchestra this year.

He also recognized the competitive band and Emerald Encore, mentioning their accomplishments throughout the season.

“It was a really amazing year for the competitive band and Emerald Encore,” he said. “We finished our season with a Division I New England Championship in U.S. Bands. I’d like to recognize the whole band, competitive band and Emerald Encore, for that.”

The students received certificates for this recognition.

Jazz band members who were recognized with certificates were Bellotti, Coss, DiNaro, Fusco, Hardy, Julian, Kristiansen, Maldonado, Martin, McLane, Santopadre and Vannini.

“Indoor percussion also had a really great season this year,” Arsenault said. “We placed second in the NESBA National A Class. It’s a nationally judged and ranked class, so it was a higher level of competition than what we’ve done in the past and we came in second in New England.”

He recognized and handed certificates to Rory Araby, Lucas Arsenault, Nathan Arsenault, Bellotti, Boudreau, Coss, Deland, DeMenezes, Fusco, Hardy, Holtzman, Hunt, Kristiansen, Lehnert, McLane, McNeil, Rei, Roberti, Kaitlyn Schmitz, Kyle Schmitz, Alexander Torelli and Vannini.

Besides the service awards, student members of the Tri-M Honor Society were recognized at the event. While these students were honored at the National Honor Society induction earlier this month and senior convocation, their accomplishments were still acknowledged.

Students included in the society were Bellotti, Borgia, Fusco, Hinds, Lehnert, Linsangan, Santopadre and Vetiaque.

Student leaders were also recognized by Arsenault, and he mentioned how much he depended on them throughout the school year.

“The student leaders, I leaned on them in many, many ways – to run sectionals, even when I was out, they just took the ball and ran band rehearsal during the day,” he said. “It was great. They’ve really done an amazing job.”

The captains and drum majors were awarded medals for their work. The captains included Santopadre (woodwinds), Martin (trumpet), Hardy (low brass), Roberti (front ensemble) and McLane (drumline). Drum majors honored were Linsangan and Vannini.

Not only were students honored, but parents and families were as well. These volunteers were awarded a Thunderbolt Invitational mug and a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card for their work.

The volunteers honored included Diane Araby, Cole Araby, Dana and Gino Borgia, Jodi Boudreau, Shelley and Domenic Fusco, Kailey Fusco, Tip Lehnert, Laura and Steve Maguire, Danielle McNeil, Val Norridge, Paula Rei, Shari and David Roberti, Deirdre Santopadre, Rico Santopadre, Michelle Scott, Mary and Ken Scarborough, Krista and Ron Schmitz and Donna Wolf.

The final segment of awards were individual awards. Senior superlatives were given out to individual students by Arsenault.

“Mark Colozzi started these some years ago,” Arsenault said. “It became a fun thing. It’s very much in fun and in jest.”

The seniors who received a superlative included Deland, Hanson, Linsangan, Delia Maguire, McLane, Norridge, Roberti, Vannini and Venda.

The Eugene F. Barron Unsung Hero Award was given to a volunteer in the band community who “best exemplify the spirit of the Cranston High School East band.” The award was given to David Roberti.

The final award, the Director’s Award for Commitment, Leadership and Musicianship, was presented to Vannini.

“[The award recognizes] someone who has really gone above and beyond as a musician, as a leader, and is amazingly committed to the program in every aspect and every facet that we have,” Arsenault said. “This young man really has grown tremendously, he has matured and I’ve watched him grow and mature and become a really excellent musician and great leader.”

A last portion of the event featured a video created by members of the music program that highlighted their time as band members.