Musical programs at Albion, Medina again recognized by NAMM Foundation

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Marching Band performs on Sept. 21 at Vets Park during the Fall Festival of Bands. Despite being of the smaller schools that competes in the field band competition, Medina has won the New York State Field Band Conference Championship several times.

The national list of school districts with outstanding music programs once again includes Albion and Medina.

The two districts in Orleans County join 935 districts total around the country as “Best Communities for Music Education.” Albion has now received the designation the past 18 years while Medina is one the list for the second year in the row.

The North American Music Merchants has presented the annual list for 26 years. The recognition highlights outstanding efforts by school districts and their communities music education.

“Your collective efforts — teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders — have been instrumental in making music part of a well-rounded education for every child,” NAMM said. “We applaud your community’s unwavering commitment to creating an environment where each child can learn and grow with music.”

Medina for the third year started doing its own musical in the junior-senior high school after about a decade of a shared program with Lyndonville. Medina has long had a stellar marching band program.

The NAMM Foundation’s list includes other nearby districts: Roy-Hart, Akron, Batavia, Geneseo, LeRoy, Lockport, Mount Morris, Perry, Warsaw and York.

Albion High School’s drama department performed Cinderella in late March. The district is perennially recognized as an outstanding musical among small schools in the Rochester region. This photo shows Zack Baron as Prince Christopher putting the slipper on Mallory Kozody who is Cinderella. Phoebe Allen, the evil stepmother, is on the couch. In back include Ella Trupo as Fairy Godmother, Sawyer Brigham plays Lionel, Julia Button as stepsister Joy, and Mallory Ashbery as a stepsister Grace. Albion does two musicals each year at the high school, and two at the middle school. The school also has a marching band and does many concerts and musical programs.