Orchestra Wins NYSSMA's Highest Honor

by Nina Goldman

On Thursday, May 21st, the BHS orchestra brought home a “Gold with Distinction” award from a state-wide festival run by the New York State School Music Association, otherwise known as NYSSMA. This festival is what the young musicians have been working towards since their winter concert. Students rehearsed during classes, sectionals, and even after school in order to perfect their playing.

The constant practice seems to have been worth it. At NYSSMA, the orchestra played three pieces by Corelli, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich. These pieces are classified as “Level Six” pieces, the hardest a high school orchestra can play. The Shostakovich String Quartet # 8 is especially difficult. It is an extremely fast, depressing piece that was written, in the composer’s words, for “the victims of fascism and war.” But despite the challenge of these pieces, the group was awarded a “Gold with Distinction” honor, the highest possible ranking.

“We worked really hard and it really paid off,” says Emma Lettiere, a sophomore cellist.

This gold with distinction makes a happy contrast to last year, when the orchestra only received a silver. Junior violist Stephanie Caruso attributes this year’s greater level of success to “better judges” and a “superior choice of musical works.”

Senior violinist Richard Bastuck added, "It was a great surprise considering last year's upset. It made me feel like the last few months were really worth the extra effort, and it's a great way to end a four-year commitment."

If you want to hear this newly-awarded group perform, you can attend the orchestra concert at 7 PM on Wednesday, June 3rd. Also, good luck to the chorus and the band, who will be attempting to follow up the orchestra’s success at their NYSSMA competitions on June 3rd and 5th, respectively.