Williamsville students named to All-State music ensembles

Fourteen students from the Williamsville Central School District have been named to All-State music ensembles and will perform at the 2006 New York State School Music Association Conference, which will be held Dec. 2-3 in Rochester. Seven other students were named as alternates.

The students chosen for the All-State Wind Ensemble are Kara O'Neil from South High School and Sara Ann Scofidio from East High School. Cameron Kayne of South High will perform in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

In the Symphony Orchestra Alex Boissonnault and Alina Jean from East High School were chosen to perform. All-State performers for Symphonic Band are Emily Cogsdill, Michael Metzger and Katie Tang from East High School and Allison Lyttle, Maria E. Mastroianni, and Josh Newman from North High School.

In Mixed Chorus, Narang Kim from East High, and Stephanie O'Dea from South High were chosen, while Daniel White from East High School was selected for the Instrumental Jazz Ensemble.

Named as alternates for Instrumental Jazz are Russell Algera from North High and Eric Mahl and Michael Metzger from East High. Alternates for Band are Dana Gradl from North High and Andrea Pacella, Alyssa Pfund and Daniel White from East High.

Also, Joseph Buckle, orchestra director at North High School, served on the NYSSMA All-State Selection Committee that made the selection for the All-State Orchestra.

Five music directors from around the state made up the committee, which went through hundreds of playing scores from students across New York State, choosing the top student musicians for the All-State Orchestra, which will perform at the NYSSMA conference in December.