Greenport School District

Greenport students excel at NYSSMA

Thirty-seven of the 44 Greenport band and chorus students who performed solos at the April 30 NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festival in Mattituck received “excellent” or “outstanding” ratings, Greenport School Superintendent Michael Comanda announced at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

“We had a fourth-grader who has only been playing the flute for less than a year who got a perfect score,” Mr. Comanda said of student Julio Coc Tomas.

NYSSMA is an educators’ group that seeks to advance music education across the state. It evaluates student musicians from elementary to high school. At each festival, students perform scales, a solo or ensemble piece of their choice, along with a sight-reading piece, in front of judges.
According to a press release, 14 Greenport elementary students received a rating of “excellent” for their voice or instrument solos. They are: Jullianna Conway, Luis Coria, Tiarra Edwards, Carla Fernandez, Courtney Martocchia, Ella Mazzaferro (voice), Andrea Ochoa, Josua Santacroce, Breanna Shelby, Ava Torres (voice and saxophone), Jessica Villareal, Paige Wachtel, Sophia Wachtel and Drew Wolf.

Ten elementary students were rated “outstanding,” the festival’s highest grade. They are: Ahkee Anderson, Kevin Azama, Julio Coc Tomas, Kaylee Hansen, Ella Mazzaferro (saxophone), Emily McInnis, Joseph McInnis, Luca Rallis, Adan Sandre-Torres and Melody Silie.

At the junior high school level, six students — Emelyn Azurdia (voice and flute), Blayr Corazzini, David Jenkins, Nellie Spackman, Chris Vedder (flute) and Lena Wolf — were rated “excellent” and one student, Garrick Hughes, was rated “outstanding.” The vocal duo of Jennifer Kravitz and Chris Vedder received a perfect score and Jillian Golden, who performed a high school-level solo, earned a “B+.”
High school students Maia Mazzaferro and Angelina Pagano each received a rating of “excellent.” Suzie Bunchuck, Ginger Hughes and Erica Peterson participated on an advanced level and each received an “A.”

[email protected]