34 Washingtonville students earn spots in Hudson Valley Honor Band

The Washingtonville Central School District Music Department is proud to announce that 34 WCSD students earned positions in the Hudson Valley Honor Band this season. Ten of those students also earned the top "principal chair" position for their instrument.

The audition-based program brings together top-performing student musicians from across the Hudson Valley. It includes separate ensembles for sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade and high school. Unlike a traditional single-weekend festival, the Hudson Valley Honor Band is an extended commitment, with weekly rehearsals leading up to a fall concert and a spring concert.

The bands performed Oct. 3 and 4 at Monroe-Woodbury High School. Congratulations to Washingtonville music teachers Laura Giorgio, Nikki Redecker, Ben Kohn and Lenny Klopchin, who also performed with the New York Wind Symphony that weekend.

"Our students showed their hard work on stage at the fall concert this past weekend," said Ari Contzius, Washingtonville High School music teacher. "This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our students and the guidance of our elementary, middle, and high school band teachers, who helped them prepare for their auditions."

Please join us in celebrating the following students for their musical accomplishments. Students marked with an asterisk (*) earned a principal chair position.

High School Honors Band
Ayden Mac-Ocran
Emerson Fillie
Giovanni Berchielli*
Isabel Burgos
Kaitlyn Yanez Doorantes
Katie Sullivan*
Marcus Caceres
Matthew Montoya
Rubby Paling*
Serena Beazer*

7th and 8th Grade Honors Band
Adam Lopez
Aiden Aguilar*
Jackie Tait
Kate Buchanan
RJ Mellars
Tatsuto Suzuki*
Zialyse Zarra

6th Grade Honors Band
Andrew Shand
Arthur Cecchini
Aubrey Figueroa
Brinley Passarotti
Dorothea Ohm
Jayden M. Saint-Vil*
Jazlynn Leon
Joanne Ologunja
Kingsley Vilbrun
Laurelai Graef*
Liam Bachman
Lily Montoya*
Mia Alvarez
Miles Giorgio*
Owen O'Banion
Shea Cartwright
Sullivan Marino