The RCS Music Department enjoyed a vibrant and successful fall, filled with meaningful performances and noteworthy achievements. Our student musicians rose to the occasion, showcasing their talent and hard work while representing RCS with distinction across multiple events. Their passion for music and dedication to their craft made this fall especially memorable. Here are a few highlights from this exciting season.

The All-State Bands, Chorus, Orchestra, and Jazz Ensembles are prestigious honors groups made up of the top student musicians from school music programs across the state.

This festival showcases the finest young musicians in our region, known as Zone 7. Through a highly competitive selection process, the Zone 7 All-State ensembles include 330 student participants representing 41 school districts. This year, RCS was proud to have nine students selected to attend the area festival, earning recognition for their exceptional talent, dedication, and hard work.

Symphonic Band:

Aiden Boehme, Trumpet 
Owen Smith, Alto Saxophone

Mixed Chours:

Natalia Alonso, Alto
Bradley Brenner, Bass
Helena Desnoyers, Alto
Marley Lyle, Alto
Olivia Storms, Alto
Kyra Therrien, Alto
Brady Warner, Bass

Congratulations to these talented musicians! The NYSSMA Area All-State Festival was held at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady at the end of November.

Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

The Greene County Music Educators’ Association hosted the Fall All-County Music Festival this year at Cairo-Durham High School, welcoming student musicians from across the county, including Catskill, Cairo-Durham, Coxsackie-Athens, Greenville, Hunter-Tannersville, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, and Windham-Ashland-Jewett.

The Friday evening concert featured performances by the senior jazz ensemble, elementary chorus, junior band, and senior chorus. A total of 48 RCS students proudly participated, sharing the stage with talented peers from neighboring districts.

This annual festival highlighted not only the outstanding musicianship of our RCS students but also the dedication of our music educators, who continue to support and contribute to the Greene County Music Educators’ Association and its mission to celebrate musical excellence.

Cairo-Durham High School

Elementary Chorus (Grade 6)
Soprano
Cameron De Oliveira
Reiley Frankovic
Gregory Lischak
Laylah McEwan
Zoey Shear
Annalise Soto
Colton Therrien

Alto
Adleigh Ames
Brooklyn English
Maia Espinoza
Kenneth Krueger
Brynn Muellecker
Derek Ross
Leah Ross
Alice White

Junior Band (Grades 7 - 9)
Makenzie Eggleston, Flute
Kayla Beazley, Flute
Andres Guzman-Ortiz, Clarinet
Melody Mapes, Slto Saxophone
Addison Lchner, Alto Saxophone
Amelia Knapp, Tenor Saxophone
Samuel Robertson, Trumpet
Violet Wichmann, Trombone
Maksim Moya, Baritone
Abigail Gordon, Baritone
Evan Wood, Tuba
Liam Johnson, Percussion

Senior Jazz Ensemble (Grades 10-12)
Owen Smith, Alto Saxophone
Ava Conlon, Alto Saxophone
Aiden Boehme, Trumpet
Stephen Mathai, Trombone
Adam Gardner, Guitar

Senior Chorus (Grades 10-12)
Soprano
Caileigh Burnham
Chloe de Oliveira
Stephanie Diaz
Jamie Mantor
Isabella McSweeny
Olivia Storms

Alto
Helena Desnoyers
Marley Lyle
Laila Rabideau

Tenor
Katarina deOlde
Parker Deyoe
Ashley Ellis
Lauren O’Connor
Kyra Therrien

Bass
Bradley Brenner
Jack Smith
Brady Warner

Palace Theatre in Albany

Members of the 7th and 8th Grade Band had the opportunity to experience a live performance at the historic Palace Theatre in Albany this October. Students attended the Albany Symphony’s opening concert of the 2025–2026 season, where they were immersed in an inspiring evening of professional music-making.

The program featured Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (1919), Dvořák’s powerful Cello Concerto, the electrifying world premiere of Look Up by Alex Berko, and Sibelius’s stirring Finlandia. This experience offered students a firsthand look at orchestral musicianship and the excitement of live performance, reinforcing the importance of music beyond the classroom.

RCS High School

The RCS High School Music Department kicked off the 2025–2026 school year with a Fall Concert featuring performances by both the High School Chorus and Band.

The evening began with a student-produced video presentation on theater etiquette, which set a fun and engaging tone for the program. Following this, the High School Chorus performed a four-song set that included a classic Broadway piece by Andrew Lloyd Webber, featuring Helena Desnoyers as soloist.

A highlight of the evening was the induction of thirteen new members into the Tri-M Music Honor Society. This esteemed recognition honors students who exemplify commitment to music, music education, and community service. The ceremony was conducted by senior members of the RCS Tri-M Chapter, who warmly welcomed the new inductees.

The concert concluded with a lively performance by the High School Band, which also showcased four pieces, including a crowd-pleasing arrangement of “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” by John Williams, arranged by Jack Bullock.

Congratulations to our talented students for their beautiful performances,

Special welcome to our new Tri-M inductees:

Natalia Alonso
Bradley Brenner
Ava Conlon
Chloe de Oliveira
Helena Desnoyers
Madison Deyo
Ashley Ellis
Bella Grundman
Marley Lyle
Kirsten Molino
Olivia Storms
Sage Stumbaugh
Haley Visone

These new members join our returning Tri-M members:

Aiden Boehme
Caileigh Burnham
Katarina deOlde
Stephanie Diaz
Stephen Mathai
Owen Smith
Brady Warner
John Robertson
Emalie Ryan
Kyra Therrien
Isabella McSweeney

During December, the RCS High School auditorium comes alive with a variety of musical performances, showcasing the talents of our students at the midpoint of the school year. From first- and second-grade students joyfully singing about winter fun to fifth-grade band members proudly performing together on their instruments for the very first time, each concert highlights the musical growth our students have achieved since the start of the year.

Our Middle School Band and Chorus captivate audiences with engaging selections that have listeners tapping along, while our high school musicians provide an uplifting and inspiring finale to the winter concert season. A special highlight is the high school chorus’s beautiful performance of the Hallelujah Chorus, which brings together RCS staff, alumni, and community members to close the season in true harmony.

The RCS Music Department would like to thank our families and community for their continued support of our music programs. We wish everyone a restful and enjoyable winter break and look forward to welcoming you back in the new year for more wonderful performances.