DCS senior Philip Nash recently qualified for the band at the NYSSMA Area All-State Festival on March 25-26 at Westmoreland High School. The festival includes performances by the band, mixed chorus and string orchestra.
According to the website, each NYSSMA Zone across the state hosts a music festival for high school music students. At the conclusion of the festival, the musicians perform a concert for the public.
Nash – who has played the trombone for nine years – qualified after scoring a 98 (out of 100) for a level 6 (the hardest degree of difficulty) NYSSMA solo. He said he was very happy to qualify.
“It’s a lot of hard work and preparation, but if you’re willing to commit to it, it pays off,” he said.