232 students shine at All-County Music Fest

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The elementary chorus performs on Saturday at the Kendall school auditorium as part of the All-County Festival.

The event is organized by the Orleans County Music Educators’ Association.

There are 88 students in the elementary chorus from Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts.

The All-County also included 78 students in the junior high band and 66 in the high school chorus, making 232 students in the All-county Groups.

There will be another All-County Festival on March 8 in Lyndonville featuring the top students for the elementary band, junior high chorus and high school band.

At the beginning of the concert on Saturday in Kendall, a moment of silence was observed for Josh Peters, a 16-year-old Kendall student who was killed in a car accident on Wednesday.

The elementary students were led by guest conductor, Annelle VanNortwick, a general music and chorus teacher at Clinton Elementary School in West Seneca.

The students performed four songs: “A Joyful Song,” “Mary Had A Little Blues,” “Why We Sing” and “Feel Good.”

The junior high band played “Wild Blue,” “When Summer’s In The Meadow,” “Tripwire” and “Byzantine Dances.”

The students started rehearsing together for the first time Friday and the next day had their concert.

Matthew Tichy served as guest conductor of the Jr. High All-County Band. He is the band director at Mill Middle School in Williamsville. He also performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Syracuse Orchestra. He is a member of the Blue Stars and Bluecoats of the Drum Corps International.

Ryder Jones of Medina sings a solo during “City Called Heaven.”

Elliott Michki of Albion conducts the high school chorus in “The Dreamer.”

Four vocal and chorus teachers in Orleans County led the high school chorus, with the teachers each serving as guest conductor for a song. Michki, Albion High School chorial director,  led the group in “The Dreamer” while Kelly Marzano of Holley Jr./Sr. High, led them in City Called Heaven.”

Rachel Trillizio of Medina led the students in “Set Me As A Seal” while Jennifer Neroni-Trupo of Lyndonville conducted “Take On Me.”