The RCS District is pleased to announce that it will be sending two high school student musicians to perform at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Conference All-State Festival. This year’s concert is scheduled to be held at the Eastman Theater in Rochester, N.Y. at the conclusion of the festival, which runs from Thursday, December 2 to Sunday, December 5. Each year in late August, students from across New York state are notified that they are selected to participate in the NYSSMA Conference All-State music ensembles based on the high scores they earned at the previous spring’s NYSSMA solo festivals. In addition to this special announcement, the district has been notified that a third student has been selected as an alternate for this year’s event.
“We are so pleased to see our students' many years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance be recognized and selected as part of this prestigious festival,” said RCS High School Choral Director and K-12 Art and Music Curriculum Content Specialist, Michelle McLoughlin. “Although it is always an extremely competitive process, because of covid performing restrictions, NYSSMA greatly reduced the number of students earning this honor for this year, so we are especially thrilled!”
The following RCS students have been selected to participate:
RCS Senior Renee Rivers.
Ms. Rivers will be playing flute in the All-State Symphonic Band.
RCS Senior Aidan White.
Mr. White will be singing Bass in the All-State Mixed Chorus.
RCS Senior Lydia Hommel.
Ms. Hommel was selected as a Soprano alternate to the All-State Mixed Chorus.
Ms. Rivers shared her thoughts on being selected, "With COVID-19, I never thought it would happen and I never thought I would get to experience it. It is very rewarding after everything I put into it over the last few years."
"I think it will be refreshing to showcase my efforts as a musician, especially after being remote last year due to COVID-19. It is very exciting," said RCS Senior Aidan White.
"This is such a big accomplishment for me, even as an alternate, it is such a competitive festival,” Lydia Hommel, RCS senior, says.
To learn more about the process of being selected for the NYSSMA) Conference All State Festival, visit: https://www.nyssma.org/parents-students/the-all-state-process/
Congratulations to this special group of musicians.
Best of luck at All State!!
Pictured Above: Renee Rivers
Pictured Above: Aidan White
Pictured Above: Lydia Hommel