Byram Hills Sends 11 Student Musicians To Westchester Area All-State Ensembles

ARMONK, NY — Eleven student-musicians at Byram Hills High School were selected to perform in Westchester County Area All-State ensembles, the district announced.

The honors came through the Westchester County School Music Association after a competitive selection process tied to students' performances and scores at New York State School Music Association solo festivals held in the spring. The selected students will rehearse with their ensembles three times in October before the final concerts on Oct. 24 at New Rochelle High School.

“Congratulations to our student-musicians,” Director of Fine Arts Marc Beja said. “We are proud of their strong showing and excited for their performances. Thank you to choir teacher Dr. Douglas Coates, orchestra teacher Aaron Lockwood and band teacher Billy Petito for their deep commitment to supporting our students.”

The Byram Hills students selected for the county ensembles represent orchestra, choir and band programs at the high school. In Symphony Orchestra, the students are sophomore Keshav Deshpande, cello; junior Paloma Hussain, cello; and junior Isabel Cooper, trumpet. In String Orchestra, sophomore Chris Gjelaj and sophomore Michel Rabbah were selected on violin.

In Treble Choir, the selected students are senior Liana Brown, soprano 2, and senior Darby Schlosser, soprano 2. The Concert Band honorees are sophomore Nico Johnson, baritone saxophone; senior Lucas Rivalsi, trumpet; sophomore Caitlin Kmetz, trumpet; and senior Chloe Ferreira Szilagyi, French horn.

The selections reflect a strong showing for Byram Hills in a process that drew on spring solo festival results. According to the district, students earned the recognition based on outstanding performances and scores during those New York State School Music Association events.

The next milestone for the students is the October rehearsal schedule with their Area All-State groups, followed by the culminating concert performances in New Rochelle. The concerts are scheduled for Oct. 24 at New Rochelle High School.