ACPS students named All-State musicians

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Forty-three young musicians from ten local schools have been selected as all-state musicians by the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA).

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 mid-January. 

At the elementary level, nine 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, 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

• Xiaojia Huang (Flute) – All State Band 
• Aiden Shin (Violin) – All State Orchestra

Eastside High School – Alek Concepcion Rivera, Choral Director/Orchestra sponsor 

• Flora Xu (Alto) – All State Reading Chorus
• Sarah Yan (Alto) – SSAA Chorus
• Alexander Hsu (Cello) – Symphonic Orchestra
• Shanna Ko (Violin) – Concert Orchestra
• Kimberly Oh (Violin) – Concert Orchestra
• Daniel Ai (Clarinet) – Symphonic Band
• Derek Ai (Clarinet) – Symphonic Band
• Eva Shan (Flute) – Concert Band

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

• William Allen (Oboe) – Concert Orchestra
• William Bigger (Trumpet) – Symphonic Band
• Zachary Bryan (French Horn) – Concert Band
• Angelina Butcher (Flute) – Concert Band
• Anastasia Carmichael (Flute) – Concert Band
• Haley Chance (Clarinet) – Concert Band
• Brendon Gandy (Alto Saxaphone) – Symphonic Band
• Shawn Ma (Trombone) – Concert Band
• Henry Rodgers (French Horn) – Concert Orchestra
• Katie Kenny (Soprano) – SSAA Chorus
• Pranay Gadikota (Violin) – Symphonic Orchestra

Fort Clarke Middle School – Chris Houze, Band Director

• Izzy Bryan (Euphonium) – Middle School Honor Band

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

• Adriel Tan (Clarinet) – 9-10 All-State Concert Band
• Elizabeth Liu (Soprano 1) – High School Concert Chorus
• Gio Malorzo (Alto 2) – Senior High SSAA Chorus 

Howard Bishop Middle School – Amy Beres, Band Director

• Foster Swindling (Percussion) – Middle School Honor Band

Kanapaha Middle School – Michael Loffredo, Band Director

• Alex Bubenik (Euphonium) – All-State Middle School Band
• Jack Ferguson (French Horn) – All-State Middle School Band
• Avery Jonas (Alto Saxaphone) – All-State Middle School Band
• Lucas Kowal (Bass Clarinet) – All-State Middle School Band
• Mary Anne Leko (Flute) – All-State Middle School Band
• Laila McCaslin (Trumpet) – All-State Middle School Band

Oak View Middle School – Lori Pirzer, Band Director

• Finn Bigger (Trombone) – Middle School Honor Band

Santa Fe High School – Jacob Massena, Band Director

• Leo Miller (Trumpet) – All State Honor Band

Wiles Elementary School – Carrie Olson, Music Teacher

• Mila Castineyra, Colton Pickle, Harper Riley, Elliot Shenker – Elementary Chorus
• Benjamin Hu, Marissa Kizner, Violet Krzykowski, Nathanial Rowe, Aria Vidal – Elementary Orff