Twelve MCPS Students Selected for the National Association for Music Education 2025 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles
Every two years, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Conference brings together the European Music Educators Association and top student musicians from the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern region, including the District of Columbia. The All-Eastern Honors Ensembles include mixed choir, treble choir, orchestra, concert band, modern band and jazz band, and are comprised of the highest scoring 600 students from 10 states.
“I am absolutely thrilled for the incredible students who earned a spot in the NAfME All Eastern ensembles!,” said Phil Barnes, coordinator of instrumental music and theatre. “Their dedication, perseverance and passion for music have truly paid off, and this is such a well-deserved recognition of their hard work.”
To be considered, students must have participated in the Maryland All State Ensembles the previous year as 10th or 11th graders and can apply if they meet all eligibility requirements.
For the 2025 ensembles, several hundred Maryland students were eligible to apply. Of the nearly 200 Maryland applicants, 33 were selected—including 12 from MCPS, representing seven high schools.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
- Sophia Ecker, soprano, Mixed Choir
Montgomery Blair High School
- Zeyuan Zhao, violin, Orchestra
Northwest High School
- Claire Shin, soprano, Mixed Choir
Seneca Valley High School
- Donovan Holt-Harrington, clarinet, Concert Band
Thomas S. Wootton High School
- Naysa Mustafa, soprano, Treble Choir
- Katie Hwang, viola, Orchestra
- Mason Lee, double bass, Orchestra
- Liam Silberhorn, violin, Orchestra
- Matthew Shoyket, trombone, Concert Band
Walt Whitman High School
- Mitchell Kwoun, bass, Mixed Choir
Winston Churchill High School
- Michelle Pan, flute (piccolo), Concert Band
- Dan Huang, jazz bass guitar, Jazz Band
“This honor is a testament to these students’ exceptional talent and countless hours they've devoted to perfecting their craft. I am so proud of them and can't wait to see them shine alongside other talented musicians,” said Barnes. “This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and I know they will continue to achieve great things in the world of music!”
This year, the students will travel to Hartford, Connecticut and perform on April 26-27 as part of the 2025 NAfME Eastern Division Conference.
Meet the Musicians
