6 students from Orleans perform at NYSSMA festival

 Photos courtesy of Zach Busch: The Symphonic Band was conducted by Mr. Martin Allen, a retired high school band director of 32 years at Grand Island Schools. The students performed four works, including “Cincinnatus March” by H. A. Vandercook and “Mambo Perro Loco” by Julie Giroux.

Information courtesy of Zach Busch, Holley band director

WEBSTER – Last weekend 6 students from Orleans County participated in the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Zone 2 Jr. High Area All-State festival at Webster Schroeder High School.

NYSSMA Zone 2 encompasses schools from Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, and Wayne Counties. To be selected for Area All-State, students must first prepare a solo on their instrument or voice for adjudication at Solo Festival.

Then, based on their score and a teacher recommendation, an application is sent to a committee of music teachers from the NYSSMA Zone 2 area who select that year’s student participants in the Area All-State ensembles.

Students spent eight total hours last Friday and Saturday rehearsing their music before giving concerts to friends and family in the afternoon.

Three of the students from Orleans County include, from left, Rosa Scroope of Holley, Lillian Olsen of Medina and Adler Class of Medina.

From Lyndonville, 8th grader Harli Crawford made the Mixed Chorus as an Alto, 8th grader Emily Kroll made the Treble Chorus as an Alto, and 9th grader Karalyn Klotzbach made the Treble Chorus as a Soprano.

From Medina, 9th grader Adler Class made the Symphonic Band on Percussion and 8th grader Lillian Olsen made the Symphonic Band on Trumpet.

From Holley, 9th grader Rosa Scroope made the Symphonic Band on French Horn.

The Mixed Chorus was conducted by Mrs. Heather Vest, the Executive Director of the Cincinnati Youth Choir. The students performed five works, including “Come to the Music” by Joseph M. Martin and “Fly Away Home” by Pinkzebra.

The Treble Chorus was conducted by Dr. Brian Stevens, the founder of a professional chamber choir “Vox Lusciniae” out of Western NY and the Director of Choral Activities at St. Bonaventure University. The students performed five works, including “From Now On” from the Greatest Showman and “Omnia Sol” by Z. Randall Stroope.