The Belmont Hill School Band is starting fresh with the return of their teacher, Mr. Fiori, following the departure of Ms. Allen. Ms. Allen, known for her leadership and talent, left a lasting impression on the band, but the arrival of Mr. Fiori marks a great return. Despite losing two very skilled seniors this year, the band is excited to welcome four new freshmen, Billy Palumbo on the trumpet, Tiernan Emmert on the bass, Ryan Ho on the alto saxophone, and Brady Yoo on the baritone saxophone. whose energy and eagerness will invigorate the ensemble. Alongside them are three juniors—Brandon Li, Ethan Xie, and TZ Snail—who bring valuable experience and leadership to the group. With this new mix of members, the band is starting from a blank slate under Mr. Fiori, ready to share new pieces of music with the entire school.
Belmont Hill’s orchestra program has long been a strength of the school’s music department, known for producing high-quality performances at events and chapels. Many students, such as Ernest Lai, 25’ and Jaiden Lee, 26’ have shown their talent even outside of the school’s orchestra, playing in many concerts, including the Northeastern Districts. This year, the band has set high aspirations and goals to not only maintain their skill from last year but to elevate it. With Mr. Fiori’s guidance, they will hone skills, develop together, and hopefully play at a multitude of events this year. Adrian Tan, ‘25, said, “Although we started the year with a bit of shaky attendance, we quickly got back into it. I’m really excited about the talent and work ethic of our orchestra this year. I think we’ll be able to achieve a lot.” The blend of new talent and experienced players fuels a growing sense of excitement and ambition in both the Jazz Band and Orchestra under Mr. Fiori. Both ensembles are very excited to share their work and practice throughout the year with the rest of the school, and the Panel supports them in each of the pieces.
Indresh Chandel 