Local students earn spots in prestigious All-State musical ensembles

Wiles Elementary All-State musicians

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Thirty-six students from eleven Alachua County public schools have been selected as All-State Musicians by the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA).

The students will participate in thirteen different All-State ensembles at the annual FMEA conference in Tampa, to be held January 10-13. The conference will include workshops, rehearsals, and performances with the state’s other top young musicians under the leadership of expert conductors. 

To earn spots in the All-State ensembles, students participated in a rigorous audition process this fall that included musicianship tests, playing scales, sight-reading passages, and prepared audition pieces on their respective instruments.

This year Kimball Wiles was one of only two elementary schools in the state to have the maximum number of 10 students selected as Florida All-State musicians. Just 78 students from schools across Florida were selected for the All-State Orff Ensemble and 211 students for the Elementary All-State Chorus. 

“Selection as an All-State musician is a testament to the students’ hard work and dedication to their craft–and to their music teachers, who work tirelessly to help them prepare,” said Diana Rollo, the district’s fine arts coordinator. “Our district and community recognize the importance of music education in our schools, and we’re grateful for the continued support of the One Mill initiative, which helps fund fine arts programs in our schools.”

The One Mill is a ballot initiative first approved by Alachua County voters in 2008 and every four years since then. In addition to music and other arts programs, revenues from the One Mill support academic and career tech magnets, school counselors, media specialists, and other critical staff and programs. It’s up for renewal by voters in 2024.

The students named All-State musicians, their school, their grade, their All-State ensembles, and their instruments/vocal categories are as follows:

Pranay GadikotaBHS10All State Concert OrchestraViolin
Alicia ParfaitBHS11All State Symphonic BandClarinet
Timothy SheridanBHS10All State Concert BandEuphonium
Madelyn UrbineBHS11All State Symphonic BandFrench Horn
Gabriel ZelayaBHS11All State Symphonic BandTrombone
Harrison ZunkelBHS11All State Symphony OrchestraFrench Horn
Josiah MannBHS11All State Senior High TTBB ChorusTenor 2
Sebastian JeongEHS10All State Concert OrchestraViola
Isaac SavinEHS12All State Symphonic BandEuphonium
Flora XuEHS10All State High School Mixed ChorusAlto 1
Elizabeth OfferleEHS12All State High School Mixed ChorusSoprano 1
Ketki BhusariEHS11All State Senior High SSAA ChorusSoprano 2
Haley ChanceFCMS8All State Middle School BandClarinet
Jack WigginsFCMS8All State Middle School BandEuphonium
Sean BernardGHS12All State Senior High TTBB ChorusTenor 2
Adriel TanHBMS8All State Middle School BandClarinet
Henry RodgersKMS7Middle School Honor BandFrench Horn
Lily ZhouLMS8All State Middle School BandAlto Saxophone
Alexander HanLMS8All State Middle School OrchestraViolin
Jasmine ElkotaneyLMS7All State Middle School OrchestraViolin
Shanna KoLMS7All State Middle School OrchestraViolin
Kimberly OhLMS7All State Middle School OrchestraViolin
Jonathan PruimNHS12High School Honor BandTrombone
Diya MathewOVMS8Middle School Honor BandTrombone
Kayla LeniusWiles Elem.5All State Orff Ensemble
Claire OlsonWiles Elem.5All State Orff Ensemble
Juniper ParkerWiles Elem.5All State Orff Ensemble
Haleluya ShimelisWiles Elem.4All State Orff Ensemble
Theresa TraumWiles Elem.5All State Orff Ensemble
Aine CullenWiles Elem.4All State Elementary Chorus
Joseph FernandezWiles Elem.5All State Elementary Chorus
Owen ShenkerWiles Elem.5All State Elementary Chorus
Aubrielle VetschWiles Elem.4All State Elementary Chorus
Chelsea ZouWiles Elem.4All State Elementary Chorus
Annie BlayWMS8All State Middle School BandFlute
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