Congratulations to Gilbertsville-Mount Upton seniors Emily Hammond and Gavin Bonczkowski, who have been selected to perform in the New York State School Music Association Conference All-State Festival in December!

Emily and Gavin auditioned in an NYSSMA Solo Festival on a Level 6 Solo and received high scores in their respective evaluations. Emily earned a Soprano 2 part in Treble Choir and Gavin secured a Tenor 2 position in Mixed Chorus for the All-State Festival, which will be a virtual-only performance.

“Students selected for these groups are considered the best in the state of New York,” GMU music teacher Deanna Perkosky said of her students, both Town of Butternuts residents. “It is very difficult to get in and we are very excited that both Emily and Gavin have made it!”

Approximately 7,000 student musicians auditioned for NYSSMA Conference Ensembles, with 3,000 recommended by NYSSMA Solo Festival adjudicators. Only 900 student musicians are accepted, with 600 selected as alternates.

For voice parts, 3,500 auditioned and 408 were accepted. Soprano 2 parts went to 67 of 826 student vocalists who auditioned, while 35 of 287 were selected for Tenor 2.

Emily and Gavin are the first GMU students to earn NYSSMA Conference All-State Festival parts since 2017, when Tim Picozzi made it for Wind Ensemble-Trombone. Other All-State GMU students musicians were Elaina Palada (2015, Wind Ensemble-Flute); Khaya Palada (2010, Mixed Chorus-Soprano); Amanda Tourtellotte (1998, Mixed Chorus-Alto); and Tamara Nelson (1998, Symphonic Band-Flute).