Contributed by Michael Ganci, Syntax for The Bronxville School

Nov. 6, 2019:  A group of talented Bronxville High School students has been invited to perform with the New York State School Music Association’s Area All-State ensembles at its 2019 festival concert, to be held on Nov. 7 at SUNY Purchase.

“Being selected to participate in an Area All-State music ensemble is a significant accomplishment that affords students the opportunity to perform challenging works under the direction of exceptional conductors,” said Denise Lutter, orchestra director and performing arts department curriculum leader. “The music faculty is proud of the students’ achievements.

Performing with the string orchestra are seniors Sabrina Mellinghoff (cello) and Sasha Paradise (cello) and sophomores Tyler Tanaka-Wong (viola) and Patrick Wu (cello). They will present a performance of Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 20 by Edward Elgar and Sinfonia No. 9 for string orchestra by Felix Mendelssohn.

Performing with the symphony orchestra are senior Sofia Ricciarini (violin) and juniors Patrick Bird (string bass) and Eve Sullivan (viola). They will perform “Nabucco Overture” by Giuseppe Verdi, “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” from The Planets Op. 32 by Gustav Holst and “A Night in the Tropics” by Louis Moreau Gottschalk.

Performing with the mixed chorus are sophomore Ashton Minich (tenor 1) and junior Izaak Thoms (bass 1). They will perform “Come Sweet Death” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “Hlohonolofatsa” by Daniel Jackson, “Lullaby” by Daniel Elder, “The King Shall Rejoice” by George Frideric Handel and “Quicksand Years” by Rene Clausen.

Performing with the women’s chorus are junior Megan Barker (soprano 1), sophomores Maggie Lockwood (soprano 1) and Eliza Brennan (soprano 2) and senior Sofia Fenner (alto 2). They will perform a repertoire of “Defying Gravity” by Bennett and Robinson, “Duerme Negrito” by Atahualpa Yupanqui, “Deep River” by Deep River, “Under the Willow Tree” by Jo-Michael Scheibe and “Sound the Trumpet” by Henry Purcell.

The students were chosen on the basis of auditions at last spring’s New York State School Music Association Solo Festival. During the audition, students sight-read, play scales and perform a solo from NYSSMA’s most challenging Level Six repertoire. The highest-scoring students at the festival are invited to participate in the Area All-State music ensembles.

Pictured: Bronxville High School students have been invited to perform with the New York State School Music Association’s Area All-State ensembles at its 2019 festival concert, to be held on Nov. 7 at SUNY Purchase.

Photo courtesy of the Bronxville Union Free School District

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