OFA students earn music honors

Four Owego Free Academy students have recently been named to prestigious music events.

Andrew Caldwell, Savannah Terry and Ellie Casterline have been named as alternates to the New York State School Music Association Conference All-State. Terry and Casterline could be enlisted to join the soprano section of the Mixed Chorus and Caldwell could be called upon to play trumpet in the Symphonic Band or Symphony Orchestra. The All-State ensembles will rehearse and perform in December at the Eastman Theater in Rochester.

Jordan Dove has been selected to participate in the All-National Honor Band sponsored by the National Association for Music Education. In 2015 Jordan performed with NYSSMA All-State Symphony Orchestra; therefore he was eligible for consideration in the All-National group this year.

Selection to the All-National is the highest honor for a high school musician to attain. Jordan and his trombone will be traveling to Grapevine, Texas on Nov. 11-13 to join other students from across the nation for this three day celebration of musical excellence in American high schools.

Selections to these honor groups are based on student performances at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble festivals. Thousands of students perform auditions across the entire state each spring. Over the summer a panel of judges ranks the students and then begins the process filling the 900-plus positions at the NYSSMA All-State.

These four OFA students are now recognized by NYSSMA as being among the best performing musicians in the state. This honor is a tribute to their abilities and their hard work. Next time you see one of them offer your congratulations for a well-deserved honor.