Veloso accepted to music school

Sisters High School student Justin Veloso was accepted on the spot at his live audition for the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The drummer’s audition was held in December at the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

For the audition Veloso played the song “West Coast Blues,” with band director Jody Henderson and Henderson’s son, Jared. Veloso was also asked to sight-read music and play a number of different styles of music.

Veloso said, “At the end of the audition they told me that I was accepted and that they would communicate with me further through e-mail.”

Just a little over one week ago Justin received news he’d been awarded a $10,000 renewable scholarship from the college.

Berklee isn’t the only school interested in Veloso.

Justin will travel to Manhattan on March 2, for a live audition at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.

“I’ll be expected to play a couple of songs with a piano and a bass and I assume I’ll need to sight-read and play some different styles of music. I’m really not sure what they’ll have me do,” said Veloso. “I’m going to wait and see what happens with New School and then I’ll decide where I want to go.”

Veloso has played for director Jody Henderson for the past seven years at both the middle and the high school, but has had a set of drums since he was two years old.

Henderson said, “It has been a privilege to observe the dedication Justin has applied to the challenging and worthy opportunities that he has been presented. He has progressed so much through his last two years of hard work and humble study. Of all drummers I have not only directed, but also have played with as an adult, Justin is by far my favorite. We would really miss Justin if he moves away to Boston or Manhattan, yet it will be an honor to know something of his roots.”