NYSSMA Forms Available Online at District Website
It comes as no secret that some of the best young musicians around can be found in the Huntington School District. Those students and their parents can access important New York State School Music Assn. forms on the district's website and download the ones they need by logging onto www.hufsd.edu.
Every spring, hundreds of Huntington music students participate in the NYSSMA Festival by performing an instrumental or vocal solo (or ensemble) before a NYSSMA adjudicator.
"The district's music faculty recommends participation to students they feel are ready for this experience, which includes preparing a solo or ensemble piece, playing memorized scales and sight reading music," explained Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. "The district's music faculty provides some coaching for lower level short pieces and recommends private instruction coaching for the upper level longer solos. Students who score well on a NYSSMA solo may be recommended for participation in All-County Festivals."
By logging onto the district website and clicking on the Arts tab and selecting Forms and Files, a visitor will find four NYSSMA application forms: All-State, Jazz, Level I-IV and Level V-VI.
NYSSMA applications must be completed, signed by parents and teachers and submitted to the student's school music teacher, along with the required monetary fee, no later than March 4 for Level I - VI regular auditions and no later than February 28 for All-State and Jazz auditions.
Level I- IV or Level V-VI regular solos and ensembles will perform at Huntington High School on May 2. The application deadline for this festival is March 4.
Level VI All-State solos will perform at Oldfield Middle School in Greenlawn on May 20-21. The application deadline for this festival is February 28 and must include accompanist information.
Jazz, drum set, and regular guitar solos will be performed at this year's Jazz Festival at Udall Road Middle School in West Islip on April 8-9. The application deadline for this festival is also February 28.
Parents should contact their child's school music teacher or the district's music office at 673-2106 for more information.