Sleepy Hollow Students Find Their Voice on a Statewide Stage

Six students from Sleepy Hollow High School recently joined nearly 900 student performers from across New York State at the 29th Annual Student Conference. Held at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, the three-day conference offered an immersive experience for student performers eager to learn, collaborate, and grow their craft.

This marked Sleepy Hollow High School’s first time attending the statewide conference, with Chiara Carroccia, Annabelle “Ace” Hutson, Liam McMahon, Kieran Raghavan, Dylan Smith, and Marisol Staley representing the school’s Performing Arts program.

“I’ve heard incredible things about NYSTEA for a few years, but this was the first year I was able to organize the trip for our students,” said Natalie Arneson, Director of Musicals. “It took a great deal of planning, and I’m so grateful that the administration and the Performing Arts Department were so supportive of this opportunity for our students. This will be an annual highlight for our drama club!”

Throughout the weekend, students selected from dozens of workshops led by college faculty and theatre professionals, gaining hands-on experience across a wide range of disciplines. Sessions included sketch comedy, Stella Adler technique, the history of musical theater, original Broadway choreography, Shakespearean text analysis, Sondheim lyric study, and strategies for overcoming writer’s block while developing original scripts.

For senior Annabelle “Ace” Hutson, one experience became a defining highlight of the weekend. During a workshop performance, her monologue so impressed a panel of judges that she was invited to perform at the conference’s closing ceremony before an audience of approximately 1,200 students and educators.

“Getting the opportunity to expand my craft and work with industry professionals was such an amazing experience, and I am so thankful to the school district for supporting us,” Hutson said. “Getting the chance to perform in front of a panel of judges, and then being chosen to perform my monologue in front of the entire conference during the closing ceremony, was such an incredible opportunity.”

The NYSTEA Student Conference brings together high school students from across New York State for a weekend focused on learning, collaboration, and creative exploration. Through a wide range of workshops, students receive instruction in acting, dance, voice, and technical theater while building confidence and connecting with peers who share a passion for the performing arts.

Participation in the conference reflects the district’s belief in the power of the arts to develop skills needed for the 21st century, including critical thinking, problem solving skills, applications of technology, social responsibility and critical thinking.

With this first delegation now complete, the Performing Arts Department looks forward to making the NYSTEA Student Conference a lasting tradition for SHHS students.