Seniors

Pranav Aggarwal - Alto Saxophone

Jason Babigian - French Horn

Jason, we are so proud of you and everything you have accomplished. We feel lucky to be your parents. Your concerts and home practice sessions have been a delight to us since you started playing the horn at Cedar Hill. We can’t wait to see the amazing things you will do at college!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Alexandra Baek - Bass Clarinet

Out of all the classes that I have taken at Ridge, I can confidently say Wind Ensemble has to be one of the most enjoyable to be a part of. The rush of adrenaline when playing the first note in a concert is an unmatched feeling. But not only do I get to play music instead of filling out worksheets, I also just get to have fun with my friends, create memories, and build connections that other classes just can’t. To this day I'm still in contact with friends that have graduated so the bond you build in the band is so special. So I'm glad that I got to be a part of the band program for all four years along with the chance to play with the symphony orchestra starting my sophomore year. Outside of class I got to be drum major of our marching band and a manager for the pit orchestra. These experiences taught me so much not only about playing music and performance, but also learning how to appreciate music and just living in the moment. Also not many people get to say that they had the chance to play music for musicals or conduct a band. So the experience, good vibes, and the community is something that will always cherish.

So Thank you, Mr. Z and Ms. Curran for your support , effort, and encouragement. Wishing all of you guys the best in the future!

Sriya Bhamidipaty - Clarinet

During my four years at Ridge High School, the band program was a constant in my life—from Concert Band in 9th and 10th grade to Wind Ensemble in 11th and 12th. Whether we were playing Band Bingo or embracing the everyday chaos of class, I always felt at home in a community that was as welcoming as it was fun. The band made school something to look forward to and gave me some of my most treasured high school memories.

What made the band experience truly special, though, wasn’t just the music—it was the people. The band had a way of turning strangers into friends and acquaintances into life long connections. Over four years, I’ve built relationships I know I’ll carry well beyond graduation. Performing pieces Danzon No.2, sight-reading new music, and playing the warm-ups in I Recommend created a sense of unity that I will never take for granted.

As I head to Rutgers University this fall to study finance, I leave the band room knowing it shaped me in ways that go far beyond the notes on a page. I’m grateful for every rehearsal, every performance, and every moment spent making music with people who made high school genuinely worth remembering.

Jean-Philippe De Greef - Trumpet

Dylan Demcsak - Drum Set

After high school, I am going to attend Los Angeles College of music, majoring in Drum Performance. I knew since I was young I wanted music to be my life, Ridge made that possible. Some memorable experiences I had with the band program are playing in the stands during football games, watching other marching bands at competitions, and playing with combo before our jazz performance. While at Ridge, I took Concert Band 9th to 10th, Music Theory, Marching Band 9th to 10th, and Jazz band 9th to 12th.

Dylan,

Congrats! We are very proud of your commitment to music and staying involved in Jazz Band since 6th grade! It’s been wonderful watching you grow and evolve. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for you at the Los Angeles College of Music but we know it will be epic.

Love your biggest fans,

Mom, Dad, Matilda & Violet

Desmond Diehl - Guitar

Being in jazz band for the last four years has been a really awesome experience. When I first joined, I felt warmly welcomed and accepted by the community. I've met a lot of great people and some of those people are now some of my closest friends. Playing in the band, especially combo, taught me the importance of listening to each other and putting your ego aside for something greater than yourself which is the music. As I move forward in my professional music career, I will look back fondly on the memories I’ve made in the program.

Desmond- We are so proud of you! There are so many wonderful things ahead for you, and we know that your hard work and determination will help make all of your dreams come true! We love you!

Mom & Dad

Harrison Fischer - Bassoon

Hello! My name is Harrison, and I will be studying Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. I started band freshman year at Ridge, and my most memorable experience was when I was asked to switch from the flute to the bassoon! It was a big change, but one I am very happy that I made. I’ve been in wind ensemble from sophomore to senior year, and I’ve loved being in band. It’s such a nice class for me to unwind from other tests that have copious amounts of homework, quizzes, and tests. Wind ensemble gives me the opportunity to really enjoy making good music, and hanging out with my friends! I would definitely recommend taking a band class at Ridge, you won’t regret it! I had a great time over these past four years and I know anyone who is lucky enough to join will too.

Harrison,

Congratulations on your final Ridge band concert! We have loved listening to you practice and perform over the last 10 years, from violin to flute and now to bassoon. It has been such a joy to watch you grow over these years, and to see your enjoyment of playing the bassoon. We are so very proud of you, and look forward to your new adventures at Notre Dame.

Many thanks to all of the amazing band teachers for their guidance and encouragement along the way!

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Love, Mom, Dad, and Sarina

Jackson Fleming - Euphonium

Kaiden Gustafson - Percussion

Why I Joined Band:

So I joined percussion in the fifth grade, a year after most. Why did I join? Well, one of my friends had done percussion the year before so I thought, “Hey, I’ll have no idea what I’m doing, but we’ll have fun together.” That friend then proceeded to quit percussion, but I ended up just doing percussion and enjoyed it so much that I kept doing it. So to that friend (they know who they are), thanks for sending me on this wonderful musical journey and no thanks for dropping out on me.

Memorable Moment:

There was one time freshman year when the percussionists were moving percussion equipment/instruments back to the band room from the stage. Now anyone that’s done this before knows that you can’t take the instruments down stairs, so instead, we bring them down the ramps into the atrium. Most people were responsible when wheeling things down ramps, but there was one percussionist that decided to ride one of the timpani down the ramp and somehow managed to not crash into anything. Fast forward to senior year, I was talking with Mr Z while moving more percussion stuff and apparently, he had never heard that story before. That truly is one of those things that I won’t forget because somehow, among at least four other percussionists, everyone kept their lips sealed about it for four years which certainly surpassed my expectations.

Music Classes & Activities

Concert band (9th and 10th), Wind Ensemble (11th and 12th), Music Theory (12th)

Marching Band (9th-12th), Symphony Orchestra (11th-12th), Pit Orchestra (11th-12th)

Plans After High School:

I’m studying game design and development with a minor in music at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and hope to continue composing/producing music in the future (shameless self promotion for my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@KaidenGustafsonMusic)

Kaiden, We have loved hearing you play through these years, watching you lean into challenges and shining as a musician and a leader. We are proud of you and we love you so much!

Mom and Dad

Paxton Gustafson - Bari Sax

After high school, I am majoring in psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University of Florham, which means that I will still be around to attend the occasional band concert! I really loved all the people I got to meet through the band program, as it allowed me to continue making new friends and fostering a larger sense of community. By far my most memorable experience was watching 3 bari sax neck straps or neck strap rings break throughout the 24-25 marching band season, and then have my neck strap ring break later in the school year. I started in concert band 9, moving into the symphonic band and then into wind ensemble in my senior year. I participated in a huge range of musical related clubs and activities, having done marching band for four years, jazz band for three years, pit orchestra for a year, and tri-m honors music society for 3 years. Overall, my band teachers were able to contribute to a great sense of belonging and care, allowing me to never feel that I could do poorly in class or not have some fun along the way. Very grateful for all the musical opportunities my teachers and the school gave me.

Paxton, We have loved hearing you play through these years, watching you try new instruments and grow as a musician and person, bringing your heart to all you do. We are proud of you and we love you so much!

- Mom and Dad

Kaylee Jeong - Flute

Being in the band program at Ridge for all 4 years of high school has truly fueled my love for performing and helped me develop into a better musician. From the chatty bus rides after marching band competitions, to having fake bread crumbs thrown down on me every night in the pit orchestra, and to playing music from all different genres and cultures in wind ensemble; being involved in various music programs at Ridge has provided me with an abundance of cherished memories that I will continue to look back on. I am grateful to have been able to be a part of such a close-knit community of such wonderful and talented individuals. Throughout my time at Ridge, I have been a member of the Ridge Marching Band for four years, a member of the wind ensemble for three years, and a member of the pit orchestra for two years. After high school, I will be attending the University of Pittsburgh as a nursing major. I would like to thank all of my current and past band directors—Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Plagge and Mr. Wong, Mr. B, Mrs. Curran, and Mr. Z—for supporting me in becoming a talented musician and doing what I love.

Kaylee Jeong! Eight years of dedication, beautiful music, and incredible growth! You have poured so much heart and hard work into playing the flute.

Watching your musical journey over nearly a decade has been such a joy. Be so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Congratulations on wrapping up an incredible chapter!

Keerthisri Kannan - Flute

Band has been such a transformative experience for me. It’s where I discovered community and grew into my wings. Whether it be practicing solos in study hall or hanging out with my friends in the band room during lunch, I traversed through a range of emotions as I got to embrace my identity as a serious musician as well as that of a friend and a student. I’m so glad to have met other passionate, diligent flautists here; we created the tradition of band bingo boards and we really supported each other through encouragement and, of course, humor, in our time here. I’m so grateful to have experienced Regions and All-State with them, and I have no doubt that they’ll continue the tradition of a strong, admirable flute section at the Ridge Wind Ensemble.

The Ridge Band program pushed me to improve artistically and technically, and I’ve participated in and won numerous competitions in my time here. I’ve had the joy of performing as a soloist in esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford University. This Summer, I’ll be competing in the final round of the Marcel Moyse Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria.

After graduating, I’ll be attending The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where I’ll be studying quantitative finance. At UPenn, I plan to join the Symphony Orchestra as well as the Flute Choir. No matter what I pursue, I cannot imagine a life without music; for me, playing the flute holds the same importance that breathing does for others.

Thank you to Ms. Curran, Mr. Z, Mr. B, Mr. Porecca, and of course to my parents for nourishing my thirst for musical excellence. Your contributions continue to inspire me.

Sincerely,

Keerthi

Pratik Katti - Trumpet

Hi, my name is Pratik Katti and I’m going to be a finance major at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. I started out my freshman year in the Concert Band program and switched over to the Wind Ensemble starting my sophomore year. The band program was significant to my experience in high school because of my passion for music, but I stayed with it because it taught me a lot about patience, listening, and balance, all things that are applicable not only in music but also in everyday life. Additionally, from the band program, I was able to branch out and grow as a musician in the symphony orchestra, the jazz band, pit orchestra, and marching band. All of these experiences are special because they all show how music is truly a universal language, one that we can use to connect with the world around us, no matter where we are. For that, I’ll be forever grateful for the time I’ve spent in the RHS band program.

Arnav Kulshrestha - Tuba

After high school I’m attending Indiana University as a finance and data science major. I enjoyed playing the tuba and learning different instruments as well as meeting new people and getting to know my band director Mr.Zugale. Music helped me learn discipline and become a better individual. I took concert band my freshman and sophomore year after which I transitioned to wind ensemble my junior and senior year. In addition to the wind ensemble, I participated in the marching band, jazz band and orchestra.

Lucas Lima - Bass/Percussion

I have been a member of the Ridge Band since my Junior year. I mainly joined in junior year as an excuse to play drums in school. At the time I did not know the people that would become my friends and the memories that I would make during this time. The class has been one of the main parts during the school day that I look forward to going to school for. I will be pursuing Music Technology in college at Virginia Tech, mainly due to Mr. Zugale for encouraging me to keep with music through college. During school I also took Music Theory as a junior, as well as being a part of the Guitar Club at school during freshman, junior, and senior years.

Eleven years ago, a seven-year-old boy picked up a saxophone, and a lifelong love affair with music began. From the sax to the guitar at eight, the piano at ten, and finally finding his true voice in the deep, soulful pulse of the bass, Lucas has spent more than half his life chasing the sound in his heart. Watching him grow from that curious little boy into the confident young musician standing on stage today has been one of the great joys of our lives.

Lucas, since freshman year you've poured yourself into the Ridge High music program, and it has poured back into you in ways we never could have imagined. You became the steady heartbeat of every ensemble you joined, both on the bass and in the way you show up for the people around you.

As you take the stage for the final performance of your high school career, know that we are not just proud, we are in awe! The last note today isn't an ending, it's the downbeat of everything still to come.

We love you, Lucas… play your heart out!!

Charlotte Liu - Clarinet

When I picked up the clarinet in fourth grade, I never could have imagined how much the band program would shape my experience at Ridge. From performing La Madre de los Gatos in Concert Band 9 to later playing Jupiter and Danzón No. 2 in Wind Ensemble, I have grown tremendously as a musician. Band has always been something I look forward to during the school day because it gives me a chance to step away from the stress of classes and be part of a fun, supportive community. Throughout high school, I have also been involved in Ridge Orchestra, Tri-M Music Honor Society, CJMEA Regions Band, and the NJYS Clarinet Ensemble. In the fall, I will be attending Caltech, where I plan to major in Electrical Engineering on the Medical Engineering track, and I hope to continue my musical journey through its ensembles.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. Z and all of the music teachers in the district for their support and encouragement over the years. I also want to thank my clarinet teacher, Mr. Rudderow, for his guidance and for sharing his passion for music with me. I will forever value the memories, friendships, and experiences I have gained through my time in the Ridge music program.

Alexandra Mendieta Harti - Bassoon

I am forever grateful to the band program that this school offers; band has allowed me to meet a lot of new people and form part of an amazing community. I’ll be going to Rutgers next year and hope to continue practicing music in some way during my college experience as music has become an elemental part of my life. Regarding the band program—I’m part of the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band—I enjoyed the funny moments most, as well as the band pieces and occasional Mr. Z crashouts as he pushes us to become the best musicians we can. The band program improved my musicianship a lot and allowed me to learn new instruments, even just for fun. Additionally, to learn and get better at bassoon, I took lessons with Howard Toplansky, a very good teacher at Elefante who taught me from how to assemble a bassoon to full Mozart concertos. To conclude everything, the band program at Ridge can open many opportunities, musically and as a person overall, and I will treasure all the memories I made through my time here.

Maxwell Morath - Percussion

Within my time here at Ridge, I have taken concert band for my 9th, 10th, and 11th grade years and have joined the Wind Ensemble my 12th grade year. Outside of in-school band, I have also participated in the orchestra during my 12th grade year and have also played in the Marching Band drumline my entire high school career, playing marching bass drum 3 during 9th grade, switching to bass drum 4 during my 10th grade year, and then moving to the marching snare for 11th and 12th grade. I have also played in the Jazz Band on drumset for my 9th, 11th, and 12th grade years. What inspired me the most about the band program here at Ridge was watching all of the other students here play and achieve new heights and make music together. Something most memorable about my time here was learning how to play the drumset by participating both in Jazz Band and also taking on drumset parts within Concert Band/Wind Ensemble. After high school, I plan to participate in more concert attire band programs and keep being inspired by so many more talented musicians.

Sanjana Murali - Piano

I’ve really enjoyed my two years being part of the band program! I decided to try out for jazz band on piano completely on a whim, with no prior experience, but it’s been one of the most unique and fun experiences and I’m glad I had the opportunity to do it. Though I love piano, my main instrument is actually the viola. I’ve been part of the Chamber and Symphony orchestras for all four years of high school as the principal violist, and as of this year, Co-President. I was part of the Region II orchestra in my sophomore year. I also have played in the pit orchestra all four years, and have been Pit Manager for two years.

Benjamin Schuchman - Bass

Ben, we are so incredibly proud of all your accomplishments and the person you have become! Your music has provided us and so many others with so much joy over the last 13 years! When you leave for college, you can’t imagine how much we will miss hearing your beautiful music radiate throughout the house every day. From watching you learn your first notes on the bass to performing at Carnegie Hall with NYYS, it's been an amazing 13 years! We can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you will continue to accomplish at the University of Michigan as a dual degree candidate in Music Performance and Business. With your strong work ethic, continuous optimism, and perseverance, you are an inspiration to all of us, and we know that you will continue to achieve great things in your life. We love you immensely and will miss you more than you know. We can’t wait to see your first performance in Michigan!

Love, Mom, Dad, and Sammy

Jack Theobald - Percussion

Hi, my name is Jack! I joined Concert Band in 8th grade because it sounded fun and I wanted something to do. Then, in 9th grade I joined the Marching Band because I really enjoyed going to one of the football games and performing there in 8th grade, and I didn’t join the Concert Band at the high school. I kept doing Marching Band all four years of high school because I really enjoyed it, and I had some great friends keeping me company on Drumline and throughout the entire band. I also did Pit Orchestra in 12th Grade because one of my friends had done it the year before and it sounded really fun. One memorable experience from my time in band was at one of the competitions this past year. We had finished performing and were sitting in the stands, when the Cotton Eye Joe, Cha Cha Slide, and the Macarena came on and everybody went to the bottom of the bleachers to dance along (including the other bands there), and then we ended up getting 1st place :)

Leah Widerkehr - Clarinet

I’ve been part of the music program here at Ridge my entire high school career. I have played clarinet in the concert band, symphonic band and the Ridge Marching Band. I will always look back to the music program as some of my best times at Ridge. The Ridge Marching Band has meant so much to me and I can’t imagine my high school experience without it. My senior year ended on a high note as section leader for the clarinets. I’m thankful for all the opportunities the program has given me and the friends and great memories I have made. I’m grateful for the instruction and mentoring from my instructors. Thank you Mr. Z, Mr. B, and my private tutor Mr. P. This Fall I will be entering Seton Hall University as an Elementary and Special Education major and plan on being part of their pep band.

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