Thirty-four Washingtonville Central School District students earned positions in the Hudson Valley Honor Band this season, the district reported. Ten of those students also secured the top principal chair position for their instrument.
The audition-based program brings together top-performing student musicians from across the Hudson Valley and includes separate ensembles for sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade, and high school, according to the district. Unlike a traditional single-weekend festival, the honor band requires an extended commitment with weekly rehearsals leading up to fall and spring concerts.
The bands performed Oct. 3 and 4 at Monroe-Woodbury High School. Washingtonville music teachers Laura Giorgio, Nikki Redecker, Ben Kohn and Lenny Klopchin also performed with the New York Wind Symphony that weekend, the district noted.
Washingtonville High School music teacher Ari Contzius said the achievement reflects the dedication of students and the guidance of elementary, middle and high school band teachers who helped prepare them for auditions, according to the district.
Principal chair honorees included Giovanni Berchielli, Katie Sullivan, Rubby Paling and Serena Beazer in the high school ensemble; Aiden Aguilar and Tatsuto Suzuki in the seventh and eighth grade band; and additional students in the sixth grade ensemble.
For more information, visit wcsdk12.org.