RHS music students shine with all-county and all-state honors

Riverhead Central School District music students have been chosen to attend (or are alternates) the 11th and 12th grade All Suffolk County Music Festival and the All-State Music Festival in Rochester, New York.Thousands of students auditioned for this honor last spring at Solo and Ensemble Festivals throughout New York State. In order to qualify to attend these festivals, students must have received a perfect (or nearly perfect) score on their solos at the New York State School Music Association Solo competition.

NYSSMA grades provide students with an objective standard that is used for acceptance to honors performing ensembles all over Long Island as well as outside student music organizations such as the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Gemini and many music camps. NYSSMA scores are included in college applications and recommendations.

David White, 17, a senior at the high school who intends to pursue music as a career, spoke for the students when he said he thanked “Ms. Burns, Mrs. Crespo, Ms. Brewer, Mr. Rottkamp, Mrs. Tishim, and Ms. Macchio, the Riverhead music teachers who…influenced and motivated [him]  to push forward with music.

The following students were honored:

All-County and All-State Musicians Band

Teacher:  Jason Rottkamp

NYSCAME All-County Band
Olivia Dickerson- Flute
Alex Montalbano- Clarinet
Sarah Bornstein- Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Jones- Trumpet

NYSCAME All-County Orchestra
Cesar Flores- Trombone

NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Band
Alex Montalbano- Clarinet

NYSSMA All State Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble Alternate
Cesar Flores- Trombone

Chorus
Teacher: Dena Marie Tishim

NYSCAME Mixed Chorus
Lauren Anasky
Ella Baldwin
Skylar Wowak

NYSCAME Women’s Chorus
Kathleen Gregory
Ashleigh Rubino

All-State Mixed Chorus
Ella Baldwin

All-State Women’s Chorus
Kathleen Gregory

Orchestra
Teacher: Marisa Macchio

NYSSMA All-State Alternate
Lauren Schaefer (violin)

All-County And All-State Orchestra
David White*, Double Bass

Source: Press release issued by Riverhead Central School district dated Sept. 27, 2016.