The Florida Music Education Association recently named 37 students from nine Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) middle and high schools as all-state musicians.
According to an ACPS release, the students underwent a rigorous audition this fall and showcased their skills through prepared pieces, musicianship tests, sight reading and scales. The students will travel to Tampa to rehearse and perform with other top musicians from across Florida at the FMEA state conference in January.
Wiles Elementary School had 10 students selected to participate in the All State Elementary Chorus and Orff Ensemble. The chorus students had to perform tonal melodies, sing a partner song, vocal exercises and perform a song in Latin. The Orff musicians had to perform a prepared piece on the alto xylophone, a body percussion piece and a sing a partner song. The students were scored on proper intonation, diction, rhythm, correct notes, tempos, phrasing and utilizing correct vocal and playing techniques.
Abraham Lincoln Middle School – Todd Eckstein, Band and Orchestra Director
Shanna Ko (8th – Violin) and Kimberly Oh (8th – Violin) – MS Orchestra
Eva Shan (8th – Flute) and Eli Wasserman (8th – Clarinet – MS Band
Eastside High School – Alek Concepcion Rivera, Choral Director/Orchestra sponsor and Sean Millman, Band Director
Daniel Ai (Clarinet), Derek Ai (Clarinet), and Ethan Dodds (Alto Saxophone) – 9-10 Concert Band Alexander Hsu (Cello) and Christpher Jeung (Viola) – 9-10 Concert Orchestra
Flora Xu (Alto) – High School Reading Chorus
F.W. Buchholz High School – Noah Graben, Band Director and Steve Couch, Choral and Orchestra Director
Christian Arnold (Tenor Saxophone), Justin De Jesus (Soprano Saxophone), Alicia Parfait (E flat Clarinet), Henry Sansing (Trumpet), Timothy Sheridan (Euphonium), Madelyn Urbine (French Horn), Gabriel Zelaya (Trombone), Harrison Zunkel (French Horn) – 11-12 Symphonic Band
Zachary Bryan (French Horn), Haley Chance (Clarinet), Ariel Gan (Clarinet), Brendon Gandy (Alto Saxophone), Mei Li Yeung (Trumpet), William Bigger (Trumpet) – 9-10 Concert Band
Pranay Gadikota (Violin) and Justin Haller (Bass Trombone) – 11-12 Symphony Orchestra
Josiah Mann (Tenor) – TTBB Chorus
Fort Clarke Middle School – Chris Houze, Band Director
Anastasia Carmichael (Flute), Katherine Demosthenous (French Horn), Brooke Traylor (Flute), and Lacey Waddle (Clarinet) – MS Band
Gainesville High School – Bill Pirzer, Band Director and Rebecca Ruescher, Choral Director
Grant Kelsey (Baritone) – TTBB Chorus
Elizabeth Liu (Soprano) – Mixed Chorus
Adriel Tan (Clarinet) – 9-10 Concert Band
Howard Bishop Middle School – Amy Beres, Band Director
Griffin Benda Durham (Trombone) – Middle School Honor Band
Kanapaha Middle School – Michael Loffredo, Band Director
Angelina Butcher (Flute), Henry Rodgers (French Horn), and Arianna Stark (Bass Clarinet) – MS Band
Oak View Middle School – Lori Pirzer, Band Director
Hailey Stern (Clarinet) – Middle School Honor Band
Santa Fe High School – Jacob Massena, Band Director
Leo Miller (Trumpet) – 9-10 Concert Band
Wiles Elementary School – Carrie Olson, Music Teacher
Grace Guzman, Landen Jones, Claire Lesshaft, Elliott Shenker, and Aubrielle Vetsch – Elementary Chorus
Trinity Crawford, Gabriele Funez, Kali Mattair, Evelyn Martyniuk, and Haleluyah Shimelis – Elementary Orff Ensemble