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37 ACPS students named all-state musicians

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Thirty-seven young musicians from nine local middle and high schools have been selected as all-state musicians by the Florida Music Education Association.

The students underwent a rigorous audition process this fall, showcasing their skills through musicianship tests, scales, sight reading, and prepared pieces. They will travel to Tampa to rehearse and perform alongside other top musicians from across the state at the FMEA state conference in early January. 

At the elementary level, ten students from Wiles Elementary School were selected to participate in the All State Elementary Chorus and Orff Ensemble. Chorus students had to perform vocal exercises and tonal melodies, sing a partner song, and perform a song in Latin. The Orff musicians had to perform a body percussion piece, sing a partner song, and perform a prepared piece on the alto xylophone. Students were scored on correct notes, proper intonation, diction, rhythm, tempos, phrasing, and utilizing correct vocal and playing techniques.

Abraham Lincoln Middle School – Todd Eckstein, Band and Orchestra Director

  • Shanna Ko (8th – Violin) and Kimberly Oh (8th – Violin) – MS Orchestra
  • Eva Shan (8th – Flute) and Eli Wasserman (8th – Clarinet) – MS Band

Eastside High School – Alek Concepcion Rivera, Choral Director/Orchestra sponsor, and Sean Millman, Band Director

  • Daniel Ai (Clarinet), Derek Ai (Clarinet), and Ethan Dodds (Alto Saxophone) –  9-10 Concert Band
  • Alexander Hsu (Cello) and Christopher Jeung (Viola) – 9-10 Concert Orchestra
  • Flora Xu (Alto) – High School Reading Chorus

F.W. Buchholz High School – Noah Graben, Band Director, and Steve Couch, Choral and Orchestra Director

  • Christian Arnold (Tenor Saxophone), Justin De Jesus (Soprano Saxophone), Alicia Parfait (E flat Clarinet), Henry Sansing (Trumpet), Timothy Sheridan (Euphonium), Madelyn Urbine (French Horn), Gabriel Zelaya (Trombone), Harrison Zunkel (French Horn) – 11-12 Symphonic Band
  • Zachary Bryan (French Horn), Haley Chance (Clarinet), Ariel Gan (Clarinet), Brendon Gandy (Alto Saxophone), Mei Li Yeung (Trumpet), William Bigger (Trumpet) – 9-10 Concert Band
  • Pranay Gadikota (Violin) and Justin Haller (Bass Trombone) – 11-12 Symphony Orchestra
  • Josiah Mann (Tenor) – TTBB Chorus

Fort Clarke Middle School – Chris Houze, Band Director

  • Anastasia Carmichael (Flute), Katherine Demosthenous (French Horn), Brooke Traylor (Flute), and Lacey Waddle (Clarinet) – MS Band

Gainesville High School – Bill Pirzer, Band Director, and Rebecca Ruescher, Choral Director

  • Grant Kelsey (Baritone) – TTBB Chorus
  • Elizabeth Liu (Soprano) – Mixed Chorus
  • Adriel Tan (Clarinet) – 9-10 Concert Band

Howard Bishop Middle School – Amy Beres, Band Director

  • Griffin Benda Durham (Trombone) – Middle School Honor Band

Kanapaha Middle School – Michael Loffredo, Band Director

  • Angelina Butcher (Flute), Henry Rodgers (French Horn), and Arianna Stark (Bass Clarinet) – MS Band

Oak View Middle School – Lori Pirzer, Band Director

  • Hailey Stern (Clarinet) – Middle School Honor Band

Santa Fe High School – Jacob Massena, Band Director

  • Leo Miller (Trumpet) – 9-10 Concert Band

Wiles Elementary School – Carrie Olson, Music Teacher

  • Grace Guzman, Landen Jones, Claire Lesshaft, Elliott Shenker, and Aubrielle Vetsch – Elementary Chorus
  • Trinity Crawford, Gabriele Funez, Kali Mattair, Evelyn Martyniuk, and Haleluyah Shimelis – Elementary Orff Ensemble
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