Six OFA students perform at NYSSMA All-State

Not one, not two, but six Owego Free Academy (OFA) students performed at the 2018 New York State Schools Music Association (NYSSMA) All State Festival last weekend in Rochester, N.Y. Being selected to perform with a NYSSMA All State Ensemble is New York State’s top music honor for high school students across the state.  

Last spring, these students prepared Level 6 All State NYSSMA solos and got an outstanding rating at their regional NYSSMA site in Johnson City, N.Y. Top scores and recommendations from judges across the state were then reviewed to select students for NYSSMA All State performances.

Seniors Abigail Dove (soprano I), Ally Fisher

(soprano I), and Camden Dyer-DeCator (bass I) were chosen to sing with the Mixed Choir; Juniors Ashleigh Allen (alto 1) and Rachel Raftis (alto 2) were chosen to sing with the Treble Choir; and Junior Emmalyn Saddlemire was chosen to play her clarinet in the Symphonic Band. Seniors Andrew Clark (bass 2) and Katie Ulrich (alto 1) were selected as alternates for the Mixed Choir as well.  

Students from across New York State rehearsed for three days and then performed in an All-State Concert on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 2 at the Kodak Theater at the Eastman School of Music. This was truly an experience of a lifetime for these students.  

This is the largest number of students selected in one year in the history of OFA.