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Date: 11/17/2021
WESTFIELD – A Westfield High School (WHS) band student has achieved a rare honor – a seat on one of the All-National Honor Ensembles for the National Association for Music Educators.
Jay Scherpa, a senior at WHS, had earned the top spot for bass trombone in the Western District finals of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) and at the all-state level all four years in high school, before also being selected this year for the nationals. He will play the sole bass trombone in the national Symphony Orchestra Ensemble.
Scherpa said he got the news about three weeks ago, from WHS Instrumental Music Director Patrick Kennedy, who also serves as the jazz coordinator for the MMEA Western District.
“Patrick Kennedy has never had anyone make nationals before, so that’s a first for him,” Scherpa said. “I was a little surprised – I didn’t prepare as long as I could have for it. But I was glad to hear I made it in.”
Scherpa said he’s been playing seriously since the sixth grade, when he started playing classical music, and knew that he was going to pursue music as a career.
“I enjoy classical more than every other music to play. It’s typically the music you hear in movies.”
He is hoping to study both music and business in college, although he’s not yet certain where he will be attending.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about that – playing professionally in an orchestra, or writing compositions for movies or commercials. Hopefully, I’ll learn some of the things about it in college.”
Scherpa said during COVID-19, he did not enjoy studying and playing music as much as before: “I definitely practiced less and experimented more with other instruments.” Recently, he recorded himself playing trombone, tuba, a couple of saxophones and trumpet for a project for school. “It was fun,” he said.
He also chose not to participate during the pandemic in two regional ensembles he plays with, the Springfield Youth Wind Ensemble and the Springfield Youth Symphony Orchestra, because he didn’t like doing them online. He has returned to the Wind Ensemble now, however.
Although he’s “not a big jazz guy,” Scherpa is also in the high school jazz band this year, along with his twin brother Kyle, another accomplished musician who plays trumpet in the jazz band, but whose main instrument is the French horn.
Jay said he can’t pick a favorite instrument.
“The bass trombone is my best, I don’t know about my favorite. It’s my go-to. I’m the best at it, and there are not too many other trombone players around.” he said.
Music is a family affair for the whole Scherpa family. Jay and Kyle’s father Zachary Scherpa has been teaching music to fifth and sixth graders for 21 years in Agawam, his first job out of college. He also teaches private students, and was himself a private student of Patrick Kennedy’s for many years. His main instrument is trumpet and trombone, but he has to play them all for work.
Jay and Kyle’s mother, Ann Marie Scherpa, also plays flute, saxophone and piano. In fact, Zachary Scherpa said he first met his wife while they were playing in Gene Barley’s middle school band in Westfield. He said his parents John and Chris Scherpa also played tuba and trumpet, respectively.
Anne Marie’s parents, Janet and Joe Barako, who first wrote to The Westfield News about their grandson’s accomplishment, said they don’t play.
“But my wife’s family did, even had an orchestra in Westfield,” said Joe Barako.
Janet Barako said the name of the orchestra was “Aldrich’s Orchestra.” She has a photo showing her great-grandfather holding a trombone with his son and a couple of other people.
“Apparently it was a popular group in Westfield at the time,” she said, adding that her mother also played violin and piano until she couldn’t see the music anymore. “So Jay and his brother, Kyle, get the music gene from both sides of the family. Both boys are exceptional in music as well as wonderful human beings. Yes, I’m a proud grandmother, but they truly are amazing kids.”
“Music is always going on in the house,” Zachary Scherpa said. He talked about the recording Jay just made with six different instruments. He said Kyle, who is also an excellent musician, always has a guitar in his hands.
About the national recognition for Jay, his father said, “It’s a big honor.”
“We’re very musical, all the way up to my grandparents,’’ Jay said. “When it comes to the holidays, we like to play Christmas music when people come over. We played a trio at a wedding once – we enjoyed doing that. Other than that we don’t play together too much.”
“I’m very proud of Jay and his accomplishments. He is very dedicated to his music and has definitely earned this accolade,” Patrick Kennedy said. “It’s particularly meaningful to me, as his dad Zach was a private trumpet student of mine for several years when I was a much younger man.”
Jay said he has to register this week with the National Association for Music Educators, and then in February, he will have a private virtual meeting and take part in a virtual concert with the other All-National Honor musicians.