Colonie Central High School seniors Cathryn Jones and Cody Chamberlin. The musicians represented South Colonie at the New York State School Music Association All-State Music Festival in Rochester.

CCHS Musicians Attend All-State Music Festival

Posted december 9, 2010

Colonie Central High School seniors Cody Chamberlin and Cathryn Jones were chosen to represent the South Colonie Central School District at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Music Festival in Rochester in December.

These students were chosen after receiving high scores on their NYSSMA solos last spring. Both students performed pieces graded as Level Six, which is the highest level of difficulty recognized by NYSSMA. Chamberlin received a score of 99, while Jones received a perfect 100.

The two South Colonie musicians were joined by other outstanding juniors and seniors from across the state at the Eastman Theater at the University of Rochester. After two days of intense rehearsals, the students performed concerts of college-level literature.

Chamberlin performed on trumpet with the All-State Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Stephen Peterson from Ithaca College. Their program included Salvation is Created, Variations on America, and To Set the Darkness Echoing. For Chamberlin, the highlight was the Romanian Overture, which emulated a Balkan Party Scene, and included singing, whistling, and speaking.

Attending the conference “was the best experience I’ve had as a musician, and as a person," Chamberlin said. "It helped me to understand performing, and that I need to really practice hard to make it in this field.” He hopes to attend either Ithaca College or the Crane School of Music at Potsdam next year. “This is what I want to do.”

Jones performed on oboe with the All-State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Raffaelle Ponti from the Genesee Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra performed Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Dances and Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich. When asked about the quality of the musical performance, Jones said, “It was great to be part of such a large orchestra. Even though the string section was huge, it was amazing how well they could play together!”

Jones went on to describe how the experience has helped prepare her for the intensity of a college music program, both musically and mentally. She hopes to attend the Manhattan School of Music next year.

Jones has also been selected to perform at the All-Eastern Music Conference in April in Baltimore, Maryland. A South Colonie student has not been selected for that conference since 1999.