Musicians From Half Hollow Hills Selected For NYSSMA All-State Honors

The New York State Music Association has made its selection of students who will participate in the 2023 NYSSMA Conference All-State music groups, and the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is very proud to count seven of its students as All-State musicians chosen to take part in this year’s Winter Conference, including two students who were selected for two different ensembles. Twelve student musicians from the district were selected as alternates and may be chosen to fill any openings in the performances.

The students from Half Hollow Hills selected to participate are:

• Rishi Aravind, Symphonic Band - Double Bass, High School East
• Maya Drame, Mixed Chorus - Alto 1 and Vocal Jazz - Jazz Alto Voice, High School West
• Emma Hall, Mixed Chorus - Alto 2, High School East
• Isaac Kim, Vocal Jazz - Jazz Bass Voice, High School West
• Oliver Mauer, Mixed Chorus - Tenor 2 and Vocal Jazz - Jazz Tenor Voice, High School West
• Elijah Shin, Mixed Chorus - Bass 1, High School East
• Tyler Varlack, Symphonic Band - Alto Saxophone - Part 2, High School East

These students were chosen out of the over 7,000 students who auditioned for this honor at solo and ensemble festivals throughout New York State last spring. Approximately 600 musicians selected as All-State will be performing at the NYSSMA Winter Conference, which takes place November 30 through December 3, 2023, in Rochester, New York.

“Being selected to perform at NYSSMA All-State, which is incredibly competitive, is a huge honor for these students and our district,’’ said Jon Trapani, Director of Fine Arts in Half Hollow Hills. “We are thrilled that they have been chosen to represent our school, music department and community at NYSSMA.’’

The alternates from Half Hollow Hills are High School East’s Brian Ou, Christopher Mun, Elijah Shin, Evan Parris, Kent Malaby, Laura Lerebours, Lohit Madisetty, Samantha Greenberg and Tyler Varlack, and High School West’s Isaac Kim, Jacob Park and Violet Lee.

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 7,300 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with equitable opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.