Huntington’s Top Musicians Recognized
Twenty of Huntington High School’s most outstanding musicians have been recognized as being among the best in the county and the state.
The All-County honorees include orchestra members Julia Engle, William Garfinkel, Holly Grabowski, Melany Lanham-Ciancia, John Malone, Hallie Raskin and Jessica Straub; band members Jacob Labarge and Sophia Latt; mixed chorus members Alanna Harvey, Osvaldo Moreira-Gonzales, Brianne Neira, Bailey Riordan, Landary Rivas, Jose Salmeron-Zeron and Justin Waite; women’s choir members Nancy Fallon, Melany Lanham-Ciancia, Annalise Mozer and Madeline Shea and jazz guitarist Dylan DelGiudice.
Dylan DelGiuduce, Julia Engle, Nancy Fallon, Melany Lanham-Ciancia, Hallie Raskin, Bailey Riordan and Jessica Straub were also named All-State. Holly Grabowski, Jacob Labarge, Osvaldo Moreira-Gonzales and Madeline Shea are All-State alternates.
“The arts remain alive and well in Huntington,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “We are beyond proud of the students who will represent Huntington in NYSSMA’s 2015-16 county and state venues, as well as the teachers who have served as their mentors and role models. They all continue to achieve and perform at the highest of levels.”
The All-State performers will participate in the 80th New York State School Music Association All-State Music Festival at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester on December 3-6.
The All-County honorees will perform in the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education/Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Festival at Huntington High School on Friday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. The gifted Huntington musicians will participate in bands, orchestras and choruses along with similarly talented young musicians from other Suffolk school districts.
The All-County Festival typically draws a standing room only crowd as it is the only one of its kind that features representatives from every high school in Suffolk. All-State honorees typically comprise most of the high school All-County Festival, so the fact that Huntington had several non-All-State performers chosen for the festival demonstrates just how talented these teenagers are, according to district officials.
“NYSCAME All-County is comprised of eleventh and twelfth graders from across Suffolk County,” said Sarah Loveland Gill, Huntington’s district director of fine and performing arts. “I’m so proud to see such a wonderful representation from Huntington. Our students worked so hard and performed so well at NYSSMA and this definitely helped them when it came time to be considered for this festival.”