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RHS Students to Attend All-County and All-State Music Festivals

(October 2009) Six students were chosen to attend the NYSCAME All-County Music Festival: Sean Harkin (bassoon) will attend as a member of the Band; Emily Cardillo (violin) will perform with the All-County Orchestra; Katie Blasl, Soprano 2, will perform with the All-County Mixed Chorus; Jessica Benitez, Soprano 2, will perform with the All-County Mixed Chorus.

Courtney Blasl, Alto 2, was chosen to sing in the All-County Mixed Chorus and won the honor of singing Altoin the Mixed Chorus at the All-State Music Festival. RHS senior Ryan Beodeker will sing Bass in the All-County Mixed Chorus and has also been chosen to sing in the Mixed Chorus at the All-State Music Festival.

This year, the first time in the school's history, RHS has a student, Sean Harkin, who was chosen as an alternate for the All-State piano showcase. Only 11 students are chosen from hundreds of applicants. Good luck, Sean.

In order to be eligible, students must have performed a Level VI solo at a NYSSMA Solo Festival last spring. The musical and technical requirements are at the highest level of difficulty and are evaluated and ranked by a certified NYSSMA adjudicator. Thousands of students auditioned for this honor and these students’ achievement represents mastery learning and a true pursuit of excellence!

"We're very proud of these students. Suffolk County's All-County and New York State's All-State competition is very strenuous. To be invited to either music festival is an honor, and these students have proven themselves worthy of the honor by their almost perfect solo scores," stated Sean O'Hara, the district's new K-12 Fine Arts Director.

To be invited to All-State is the highest possible honor awarded for excellence and achievement in music in New York State. In order to be chosen, a student must rank among the top musicians in New York State! The All-State students will spend four days immersed in rehearsals with nationally renowned conductors. We are very proud of Ryan who will sing bass in the All-State Mixed Chorus. We also want to congratulate Courtney Blasl for qualifying to sing Alto 2 in the All-State Mixed Chorus at this very competitive level of performance. In addition, we are very excited to have a piano student chosen as an alternate for the All-State piano showcase. The NYSSMA All-State Conference will be held in Rochester, NY in December.