Amherst students enjoy musical summer
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Amherst Central students Devon Borowski, 17, left, Sam Suggs, 17, and Sam Sugarman, 16, all attended the New York State Summer School of the Arts this year.

For many high school students, summer is a time to relax, spend time with friends, work part-time and forget about school.

For three students at Amherst Central High School however, this summer was about pushing their musical abilities to the limit.

Seniors Devon Borowski and Sam Suggs, and junior Sam Sugarman attended the New York State Summer School of the Arts this past summer.

Borowski and Sugarman attended the choral school, while Suggs, who plays upright bass, attended the orchestra school.

"It was unforgettable," Suggs, 17, said.

During the month-long programs, students are provided pre-professional training in their craft in a residential environment.

In addition to orchestra and choral programs, NYSSSA provides schools for ballet, dance, jazz, media arts, theatre and visual arts. Students must be enrolled in grades 8 through 12 to be eligible to audition for the schools.

ACHS choral director Justin Pomietlarz spent several summers on the faculty at NYSSSA.

"Teachers don't send their kids to audition for NYSSSA unless they're (the students) really top notch," he said, noting that the music schools are not just for performing. "They take classes in music theory, aural skills and musicianship."

The choral school, which is held at Fredonia State College, culminates with a performance at the Chautauqua Institution. Students also get the opportunity to see performances and master classes and workshops at the institution.

The orchestra school, held at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, is held in partnership with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which is in summer residence at the SPAC.

Students rehearse alongside the orchestra as well as attend master classes, performances and workshops.

"It's a full curriculum," Pomietlarz said. "It's 24/7, living breathing music."

"It was the most focused music program I've ever been to," Suggs, 17, said. "Everyone there loved music and liked to practice. It was a very diverse group."

Suggs, whose college aspirations involve majoring in music performance, said that the NYSSSA experience only solidified his desire to play music.

"If you didn't want to be there, you wouldn't have gone," he said. "Being around all that experience and passion really drives me to work harder."

Suggs' choral counterparts agreed.

"I think it would be like the experience of a music major in college," Borowski, also 17, said.

"It was really incredible to be around all of those really good voices," Sugarman, 16, added.

As far as their month-long experience at the Chautauqua Institute, Borowski and Sugarman said that the hard work they did there has carried over into the school year.

"I'm a lot more confident singing for other people now," Sugarman said.

"Amherst is an excellent school for music," Borowski said. "But we only have 40 minutes a day for chorale and our lessons. At NYSSSA it was all or nothing. If you don't like it, than this is not for you."

"It was so intense," Sugarman added. "We'll be rehearsing now in school and I'll be like 'Why aren't we practicing longer?'"

Sugarman and Suggs both noted a desire to return to the school next summer.

Pomietlarz said he will continue to recruit students for the summer schools because of the good effects that it can have on young, talented musicians.

"I really believe in this program," he said. "It's really a great thing for kids in this state."

For more information on the program, visit the NYSSA Web site online at www. emsc.. nysed. gov/ nysssa.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com