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Ridley and Marshal Selected for NYSSMA Junior High Area All-State

Allie and Lily

 

Port Byron ninth graders Allie Marshall and Lily Ridley have achieved notable success, earning the honor of performing at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Junior High Area All-State festival. Their selections were based on outstanding performances at the NYSSMA Solo Adjudication Festival last spring. 

 

Lily Ridley, a versatile musician who plays flute and saxophone and sings in chorus impressed the judges with her vocal performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Das Veilchen.” This challenging German song is classified as a Level 5 solo, and Lily’s exceptional performance earned her a notable score of 99 out of 100. 

 

Despite her initial nerves, she felt confident in her pronunciation and delivery. She said that she selected the composition because she liked how the song sounded and felt like she could narrate the story better than some of her other solo choices.

 

Allie Marshall also impressed with her trombone performance, scoring 26 out of 28 for her Level 4 solo. She performed the first two movements of Mozart’s "Sonatina," demonstrating her talent and dedication to her instrument. 

 

“I was so nervous for the whole week going into the solo festival, but it ended up being fine,” Marshall said.

 

Both students faced intense competition, as they competed against hundreds of musicians from Zone 3 of NYS, which includes Cayuga, Onondaga, Cortland, Tompkins, Tioga, and Broome counties. 

 

Their hard work, talent, and preparation stood out, earning them a spot in this prestigious festival. This event, set to take place in Homer, NY, on November 2, 2024.