Oakmont’s Own Jazz Combo, Sixth Avenue Groove, Wins Do Good Fest

Kaitlyn Renda, Co-Music Editor • June 12, 2025

Sixth Avenue Groove receiving their check!

Over the years, Oakmont has excelled in music in many areas. From winning NESBA finals to performing at Boston’s Hatch Memorial Shell, Oakmont’s music program is always well-represented. But in the past few months, six outstanding Oakmont musicians decided to form their very own jazz combo, Sixth Avenue Groove. This combo started performing at school events and fundraisers at local colleges, but will soon be opening for the famous bands, the Plain White T’s and The Fray, in front of thousands of people.

Joel Desrosiers, Allie Flannery, AJ Lasorsa, Nolan Leclair, Connor Mansir, and Gavin Stone, or Sixth Avenue Groove, will be performing at the Do Good Fest on Saturday, July 12th in Montpelier, Vermont. Along with this major performance, they received $5000 towards Oakmont’s music program and $1500 for the combo itself. When asked how she felt about opening for the Plain White T’s, Flannery stated. “I’m really excited, and it’s crazy how we are performing for 10,000 people. I also love how I get to do this with my friends.”

After being selected as one of the top ten bands in the competition, they were the most voted band out of all of the applicants. After being asked what they had felt like after they watched the camera crew come into the band room to surprise them, Lasorsa had one word: “Shocked.”

This is a huge accomplishment for both Oakmont and its music department. Congratulations to the members of Sixth Avenue Groove, and we wish you the best of luck with your performance this July!

If you would like to purchase tickets and see Sixth Avenue Groove live at the festival, you can at https://sevendaystickets.com/e/do-good-fest-2025/tickets

About the Contributors

Kaitlyn Renda, Co-Music Editor

Kaitlyn Renda is part of the Class of 2026 at Oakmont Regional High School. This is her second year writing for The Oakmonitor, and she is currently a Music and Managing Editor. She’s in Marching Band, Jazz Band, Select Choir, SHF, Best Buddies, Ping Pong Club, SADD, and NHS. She also competes in outdoor Track and Field in the spring. In her free time, Kaitlyn loves hanging out with friends, playing and listening to music, watching movies, and volunteering at her church. Kaitlyn is excited to write and edit for The Oakmonitor this year.

Cara Landry, Co-Music Editor

Cara Landry is a part of the class of 2026 at Oakmont Regional High School. This is her third year writing for The Oakmonitor. She is in Oakmont’s Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Select Choir. She is also a part of Peer Leaders, SADD, OTV, Spartan Center, French Honor Society, and Best Buddies. In her free time, Cara likes hanging out with her dog, watching movies, and hanging out with her friends. After high school, Cara wants to go to college and study biomedical engineering. She is excited to keep writing throughout her high school career!