Three Byron-Bergen High School student singers have been chosen by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) to participate in prestigious All-State Choirs. Justine Bloom, a senior and member of Byron-Bergen select choir the Singing Silhouettes, earned a place in the All-State Choir and Area All-State Treble Choir. Ninth grade students Fiona Burke and Cameron Carlson were awarded places in the Area All-State Junior High Choir.
All-State and Area All-State feature students who score very high on individual vocal solos and sight readings. All-State participants are chosen from applicants across all of New York State including New York City. Area All-State participants are chosen within 15 zones across the state. Byron-Bergen students compete for a place against students in Zone 2, which encompasses Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, and Wayne counties.
The students auditioned for All-State last spring. Preparing for their auditions required dedication and extra practice. “I had to sing that solo a lot of times to get it down,” said Cameron.
“Learning sight reading and getting tricky chord patterns, it’s a lot of practicing,” said Justine who performed a level six (college entrance level) vocal solo for a State Vocal Adjudicator. She also sight read a musical excerpt, meaning she performed a piece of music she had never seen before.
“Justine received a score of 100 percent, qualifying her for this opportunity,” said Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School Music Teacher and Choirmaster Laurence Tallman. “She was selected out of thousands of students across the entire state for this honor. It is a tremendous opportunity to work with outstanding choral conductors from around the nation.”
The students share Tallman’s excitement for the upcoming performances. “I’m most excited to work with so many talented students,” said Fiona.
Justine will perform with the All-State Mixed Choir at the NYSSMA Conference in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Sunday, December 8 and with the Area All-State Treble Choir at Letchworth Central Schools on Saturday, November 16. Fiona and Cameron will perform with the Area All-State Junior High Mixed Chorus at Greece Olympia High School on Saturday, November 2.
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