Four of our finest musicians passed an extremely competitive selection process for the NYSSMA Conference All State ensembles: Grace Bodenmiller (Treble Chorus), Sarah Tilley (Mixed Chorus), Luke Stephenson (Mixed Chorus), and Bradley Belmondo (Symphonic Band). Bradley was also chosen as an alternate for the Mixed Chorus. The NYSSMA All State Conference will take place at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on Nov. 29 – Dec. 2, with the final concerts being held in the Eastman Theater at the Eastman School of Music.

All four of the students mentioned above also participated in the NYSSMA High School Area All State music festival, which took place on Nov. 16-17 on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Additional vocal students that were selected for Area All State are: Austin Presto, Matthew See, Isaac Caballero, Colby Bills, Tyler Miles, Austin Bourgeois, and Brock Schuster.

Two instrumental students were selected for the NYSSMA Junior High Area All State festival, which will was held at Akron Central School on Nov. 2-3. Kimberly Delcamp (7th grade trombone) and Lauren Bills (9th grade flute) participated in the Area All State Junior High Band.

All of the honors ensembles work with guest conductors from all over the country, some of them with international credentials, for a very intensive two days. The students receive their music months in advance, and have been working very hard to prepare for the festival. The culmination of the festival is a concert presented for family, friends, and teachers.

Pictured here is Lauren Bills on the left and Kimberly Delcamp on the right.

We are very proud of the achievements of our music students. The competition for these honors ensembles is quite formidable, and it is a great accomplishment to be selected for participation.