Monroe-Woodbury music ensembles earn state honors

| 08 Jun 2015 | 08:13

CENTRAL VALLEY — Eighteen Monroe-Woodbury music ensembles participated in the recent New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Majors Festival, one of 60 festivals held statewide, where ensembles perform for trained adjudicators.

Monroe-Woodbury has hosted an Instrumental Majors Festival for more than 20 years and this year ensembles representing grades five through 12 participated with schools from Ulster, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties.

Two district choral groups traveled to Wallkill and Minisink school districts to compete.

More than 950 Monroe-Woodbury students - nearly one in every seven students in the district - were evaluated under their directors' guidance.

The NYSSMA adjudicators traveled from Long Island, Western New York, Syracuse University, and The Crane School of Music and were impressed with the quality of music program at Monroe-Woodbury, according to Nicole Regan, the district's music department director.

"They mentioned that they had not heard students perform at this level, with this much sensitivity, in decades," she wrote in a note to The Photo News. "They were often left speechless and one even hugged the teacher to thank them for what they are giving our students."

NYSSMA provides a manual with required levels and selections to prepare. Level I is recommended for elementary school groups and Level VI is the most advanced level for “musically mature groups of exceptional competence” and is quite often beyond the reach of a typical high school.

Three of the M-W ensembles chose music that was not included in this manual.

Additionally, the Middle School Wind Ensemble took part in the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) Commission project, and premiered the piece for the judges.

The participating ensembles and the results of their adjudication are:

High School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Bonnie Glazier

Gold with Distinction, Level VI

High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Frank Petrocelli

Gold, Level V
High School Symphonic Band, directed by Frank Petrocelli

Silver, Level IV
High School Symphonic Orchestra, directed by Lauren Buono

Gold, Level V
High School Treble Choir, directed by David Crone

Silver, Level V
High School Voice Ensemble, directed by David Crone

Gold with Distinction, Level VI

High School Wind Ensemble, directed by Richard Regan

Gold with Distinction, Level VI

Middle School Chamber Chorus, directed by Steven Wing

Gold with Distinction, Level III

Middle School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Alexis Koutrouvelis

Gold with Distinction, Level IV

Middle School Sinfonia Orchestra, directed by Peter Giorgio

Gold, Level III
Middle School Symphonic Band, directed by Christopher Taborsky

Gold, Level III
Middle School Wind Ensemble, directed by Ryan Walther

Comments only, Level F-IV
Central Valley Elementary Band, directed by Samantha Baldwin

Silver, Level I
Central Valley Elementary Orchestra, directed by Michele George

Gold, Level I
North Main Elementary Band, directed by Lara Torello

Comments only, Level F-I
North Main Elementary Orchestra, directed by Amy Hotto

Comments only, Level F-I
Pine Tree Elementary Band, directed by Kimberly Harrison

Silver, Level I
Pine Tree Elementary Orchestra, directed by Lise Lindros

Gold with Distinction, Level I
- Nancy Kriz