Four students from Holley Middle School/High School performed in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Zone 2 Area All-State Festival. They traveled to Batavia High School on Friday, November 3 to rehearse and on Saturday, November 4 to perform.
To be selected to participate for this festival, the students need to complete a NYSSMA Solo Festival performance in the spring, achieve a high score, and have their teacher complete a rigorous application and recommendation. A committee then selects the very best students from Orleans, Genesee-Wyoming, Monroe, Genesee-Valley, Ontario, and Wayne counties.
“This is such an incredible experience for our students because it is an opportunity to experience making music at a high level with students of the same age from all over the region,” said Holley MS/HS Band Director Zach Busch. “These students spend months practicing and perfecting their solos, scales, and sight-reading. They have a work ethic and dedication to their craft that sets them apart.”
Representing Holley MS/HS were:Harrison Flanagan, trombone, 9th grade; Aidan Kelley, clarinet, 9th grade; Cameron Kelley, clarinet, 7th grade; Rosa Scroope, horn, 7th grade.
Aidan and Harrison were also selected for last year’s Jr. High Area All-State Band. The band this year consisted of 85 students, much larger than most of the schools in the area. The Jr. High Area All-State Band was conducted by Dr. Adam Brennan of Mansfield University in Pennsylvania, where he has taught for 29 years. Students in the ensemble performed a variety of music from standards in the Concert Band repertoire, contemporary music, to the World Premiere of Dr. Brennan’s newest work entitled “Whimsy,” which was composed for this year’s band.
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