All-State Music Conference Taps Seven from Huntington

Seven Huntington High School students have been selected to participate in the 2013 New York State School Music Association conference scheduled for December 5-8 in Rochester. The selections put Huntington near the pinnacle of all music programs in the state.

Huntington’s Katherine Gerdes and Chelsea Holmes were picked for the All-State women’s chorus; Jonathan Engle and Brian Gilbert were tapped for the All-State symphony orchestra; Brianna Kirkland was picked for the All-State symphonic band; Christian Jamison and Ashley Melgar were selected for the All-State string orchestra.

George Gabriel and Brian Gilbert were also named All-State alternates for the string orchestra and Monica Owen is an All-State chorus alternate.

“I’ve been hoping to make All-State ever since I first got into music and the fact that it’s actually happening is unreal,” Ms. Gerdes said. “I can’t wait to rehearse and perform with so many talented and dedicated individuals! I have a feeling it is going to be an experience that with stays with me for the rest of my life.”

The All-State student-musicians work with Huntington orchestra director Lisa Leonardi, chorus director Veronica Mainville and band directors Jason Giachetti and Brian Stellato.

“I have quite a few superior musicians in my orchestras at the high school and I’m proud of all my students,” Ms. Leonardi said. “When we have so many talented and driven musicians, the other students are inclined to emulate them. In the long run, the orchestra benefits tremendously.” 

“The selection process for All-State ensembles is increasingly rigorous,” said Sarah Loveland Gill, Huntington’s district director of fine and performing arts. “Our students will be performing with the best of the best among their peers statewide, working with esteemed conductors and challenging repertoire. These demanding few days will produce some of the most inspiring concerts, which I encourage parents and anyone who is interested and able to attend.”

The selection process began last spring when more than 6,000 sophomores and juniors auditioned at nearly four dozen sites spread across 15 regional geographic areas and continued into the summer with an analysis of application and performance materials.

“Jon Engle is a wonderfully talented trumpet player,” Mr. Stellato said about one of his prized pupils. “Making All-State on trumpet is an enormous achievement due to the number of talented trumpeters in our State. Jon and his family should be so proud.”

Mr. Stellato was equally effusive in his praise of Ms. Kirkland. “Brianna is a mature and highly developed high school musician,” the veteran teacher said. “She has such a beautiful sound on horn. Making All-State for a second straight year is a real ‘wow.’”

“Making any of the All-State ensembles is an honorable achievement,” Mr. Giachetti said. “Both Jonathan and Brianna have worked extremely hard and we are so proud of their achievements.”  

This will mark NYSSMA’s 78th winter conference in its long history. The first such conference was held in Ithaca in February 1934 in temperatures that dropped to 30 degrees below zero.  This year’s conference will kick-off with a large concert at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center’s Lilac Ballroom.

“I am so excited about my three vocalists who were recognized by NYSSMA,” Mrs. Mainville said. “Chelsea has been in my class all four years and is a talented, sensitive and thoughtful singer who has an extensive theater and choral background. Kat took my concert choir class last year and has blossomed into an amazing vocalist with high caliber acting abilities as well. Monica is an incredible musician and has the ability to learn pieces of music quickly and proficiently. I am proud to say that they are among my top singers in the chamber choir. They will surely be a rocking soprano section this year!”

The All-State festival includes only the very top musicians from across the entire state. Participation requires a perfect or near perfect score on a Level VI NYSSMA solo.  Judges list competing students in a proficiency list at each NYSSMA festival around the state during the spring.  The top students on the proficiency list are then invited to attend the state conference. The competition is so intense that some students with perfect scores are not selected.

 “All of the string students who tried out for All-State this past spring were worthy of being chosen, including George Gabriel, Monica Owen, Ben Nikodem, Hailey Giordano and Brendan Wirth,” Ms. Leonardi said. “That being said, I’m not the least bit surprised that Christian Jamison, Ashley Melgar and Brian Gilbert got into All-State, as they are stellar musicians in every regard. When they come to lessons and orchestra rehearsals I’m hard-pressed to find weakness in their performance, as there is nary a wrong note! It’s a joy to teach students of this caliber.”