Nearly 30 students from the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District will showcase their musical talents alongside the best musicians countywide when they perform at the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Music Festival at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenvale on Jan. 7 and from Jan. 12 to 14.
Students were selected for the festival based on their New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) evaluations and teacher recommendations. The selections were announced during various winter concerts held in the district throughout December. Oyster Bay High School students chosen to perform at the Division V level are seniors Victoria Carchietta on flute, choral members Kate Devereaux, a soprano, and Thomas Seslowsky, a bass; and junior Michael Biggiani on trombone. Carchietta also had the sole distinction of being an alternate for NYSSMA’a All-State Winter Music Festival. This is a great honor that only a few students throughout the state receive each year.
Performing at the Division IV level are sophomores Kristen Aasheim on clarinet, Erica Duke on French horn, Alessandra Martorella, a soprano in the chorus; and Stephanie Vojvodich on trumpet, as well as freshman Jillian Haguisan on flute. Ensembles for both levels will perform on Saturday, Jan. 13. Eighth-graders Kevin Briggiani, a trombone player; Bryan Brady, a trumpet player; Dante Castellano, a chorus member; Taylor Hall, a French horn player; and Claudia Paolucci, an oboe player; will take the stage in the Division III ensembles on Friday, Jan. 12.
From James H. Vernon School, sixth-graders Franchesca Alejo on French horn, Grace Curry, a soprano in the chorus; Christopher Dean on alto saxophone, Sophia Sattar-Reiss, an alto in the chorus; and Gabriela Torres on flute will perform at the Division II level on Sunday, Jan. 13. Fifth-graders chosen to perform include Landon Baugh on trombone, Olivia Cruz, an alto in the chorus; Eric Kaufman on trombone, Noelle Montick on French horn, and chorus members Samantha Myers, an alto; Lauren Pinnock, a soprano; Tyler Rosasco, an alto; Evangeline Russo, a soprano; and Nicole Walsh, also a soprano. Their ensembles take place on Sunday, Jan. 7.
These achievements were made possible through the guidance of high school band and wind ensemble teacher Matthew Sisia and chorus teacher Meagan Finnerty; middle level band teacher Michael Giannetta and chorus teacher Melissa Kozee, and elementary band teachers Joe Devassy and Lauren Macy, and chorus teacher Louis G. Costidis.
“We are extremely proud that our students will represent Oyster Bay-East Norwich in these selective ensembles,” said Peter Rufa, fine and performing arts supervisor. “This distinction affirms their dedication and commitment to excellence and is a testament to the quality of our talented staff and our music program as a whole.”
