This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that Synergy from Merit Academy High School in Springville has made it to the semi-finals round of this year's SchoolJam USA, a national teen battle of the bands aimed at encouraging teens to play music and support their school music programs. Nov. 1 through Nov. 30, fans can vote daily for Synergy along with several other teen bands from across the U.S. at http://www.schooljamusa.com. The band that gains the most votes will automatically receive $1,000 for their school music education program. If Synergy ranks among the top eight overall scores, determined by the public vote and a panel of music judges, they will proceed to the finals round where they will compete live against seven other bands in front of a judges panel of music professionals and hundreds of fans. The finals will be held during the NAMM Show, one of the largest musical products exhibitions in the world, on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Downtown Disney located in Anaheim, Calif.
According to a press release:
Synergy began when the 7th grade orchestra teacher brought a group of cello boys together to prepare some songs for a school fundraiser. Watching the boys work together reminded her of synergy — the cooperative action of more than one person that creates success. Because they were performing in a school gym, they explored ways to create a bigger sound for their acoustic cellos. They found that if they amped their cellos with a pick-up, they could also use "gain" to create different sounds like the rock groups that they cover. When the drums were added, the band was born! Soren Peterson (cello), Jordan Nelson (cello), Trevin Powell (cello), and Jared Snelson (drums) are freshman at Merit Academy in Springville, Utah. They find inspiration in the cello band Apocalyptica. They also compose many of their own original pieces. One of their original pieces, Expect Nothing Less, is featured on the NAMM Battle of the Bands website where people can not only hear their great music but vote for them as well. Synergy has performed with the renowned pianist, John Schmitt. Synergy recently won the 2012 Art City Days Battle of the Bands and the Springville City Mayor's Choice Award. To see Synergy in action, visit their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/synergycellobandand their website http://www.synergycelloband.com. Be sure and vote for them on http://www.schooljamusa.com/bands/2012/synergy