November was an exciting and eventful month for the RCS Music Department, filled with remarkable achievements and outstanding performances. Our talented student musicians showcased their hard work and dedication as they represented RCS with pride at numerous events. Their commitment to excellence and passion for music were on full display, making November a month to remember. Here are just a few of the many highlights from this month.
RCS CSD
NYSSMA Area All State Festival
The All State bands, chorus, orchestra, and jazz ensembles are honors groups comprised of the top students from school music departments across the state.
Each year in late August approximately 600 students are notified that they are selected to participate in the NYSSMA Conference All State music groups. This year RCS had three students who attended the area festival they were:
Aiden Boehme, trumpet in the Symphony Orchestra
Kofi Opoku-Aning, Bass in the Mixed Chorus
Brady Warner, Bass in the Mixed Chorus
Congratulations to these talented musicians! The NYSSMA Area All State Festival was held at Proctors Theatre in Schecteday at the beginning of November.
Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
GCMEA Fall All County Festival
The Greene County Music Educators’ Association presented the Fall All County Music Festival at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School this year, hosting hundreds of student musicians from Catskill, Cairo-Durham, Coxsackie-Athens, Greenville, Hunter-Tannersville, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, and Windham-Ashland-Jewett.
The concert on Friday, November 15, featured performances by the senior jazz ensemble, elementary chorus, junior band, and senior chorus, with 52 RCS students participating.
This festival was a wonderful display of the talents at RCS, from our student musicians to the former RCS music teachers who conducted the ensembles, and the RCS music educators who are part of the Greene County Music Educators’ Association. The RCS Music Department extends its gratitude to everyone who helped make the festival a success!
RCS Students at All County
Middle School students in the Elementary Chorus:
Soprano
Malea Alberts
Abigail Ames
Ethan Gardner
Jane McDermott
Amarachukwa Nwagboso
Nathan Ortloff
Beatrice Smith
Brianna Vaval
Alto
Kylie Ewers
Cheyenne Gonzalez
Samuel Jaskolka
Liam Johnson
Addalynn Quickenton
Natalie Romano
Jocelyn Ryan
Jackson Stumbaugh
Aiden Whiteash
Middle School students in the Junior Band:
Makenzie Eggleston, flute
Andres Guzman-Ortiz, clarinet
Melody Mapes, alto saxophone
Mason Elliott, alto saxophone
Addison Lochner, tenor saxophone
Matio Hatzistergos, trumpet
Samuel Robertson, trumpet
Maks Moya, baritone
Evan Wood, tuba
Violet Wichmann, trombone
High School students in the Junior Band:
Ava Conlon, alto saxophone
Avery Valentin, alto saxophone
High School students in the Senior Jazz Ensemble:
Owen Smith, alto saxophone
Aiden Boehme, trumpet
Stephen Mathai, trombone
Adam Gardner, guitar
High School students in the Senior Chorus:
Soprano
Caileigh Burnham
Stephanie Diaz
Molly Engelhardt
Katori Ross
Aurora Wagner
Alto
Natalia Alonso
Kendall Bullock
Marley Lyle
Victoria O’Brien
Laila Rabideau
Ariana Wolfe
Tenor
Parker Deyoe
Ashley Ellis
Lauren O’Connor
Kyra Therrien
Bass
Garrett Bailey
Bradley Brenner
Kofi Opoku-Aning
Brady Warner
RCS High School Chorus Preforms At College Game
Members of the RCS High School Chorus had the honor of performing the National Anthem at the UAlbany Women’s Basketball game at UAlbany's Broadview Center! We’re so proud of their amazing performance and for representing our school in such a meaningful way!
Arianna Betancourt
Kendall Bullock
Rachel Carkner
Louisa Engelhardt
Molly Engelhardt
Bella Grundman
Laila Rabideau
Alexis Rice
Katori Ross
Olivia Storms
Sage Stumbaugh
Aurora Wagner
The chorus will be singing at a UAlbany Men’s Basketball Game on Saturday, December 14, with many additional students to perform.
Mrs. McAllister’s Class at Pieter B. Coeymans
Fall was incorporated into classroom learning in Mrs. McAllister's classes at Pieter B. Coeymans during November. Check out the videos featuring our Kindergarteners and 5th Graders!
A Special Guest Works With High School Chorus
On Thursday, November 14, Dr. Martin Dawson, a German professor from The University of Rochester, visited the High School Chorus during 1st period to assist with the German text they're learning for their upcoming performance. The chorus will be singing a version of 'Silent Night' with the original German lyrics at their Winter Concert. The High School Band and Chorus Winter Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 18, starting at 7 p.m. at the High School.
December Things to Know
Saturday, December 14th
Join us at the UAlbany Men’s Basketball Game where members of the High School Chorus will perform the National Anthem! The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Broadview Center. Don’t miss the chance to support our talented students. To find more about purchasing tickets click here.
Friday, December 20th
The High School Band and Chorus will be spreading holiday cheer with a special performance at the South Concourse of the Empire State Plaza starting at 10:30 a.m. Come enjoy some festive tunes during your lunch break! The performances are free and open to the public. Let’s fill the concourse with familiar RCS faces!