Rockland Proclaims Official Day for Local HS Students (VIDEO)

Despite the impending snow and sleet, about 75 people attended the Bon Voyage concert by the Nyack High School's Chamber Orchestra, which is heading overseas soon

Nyack School District’s music department has been receiving national recognition and is now stepping into the international spotlight.

The Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra will be joining the 2013 International Tour. They leave March 19 for the Czech Republic and the 2013 Young Prague Festival Competition. Afterwards, they’ll head to Vienna for additional performances.

“It’s definitely going to be an experience that they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives and it’s an amazing culmination of all these kids who have worked so hard anywhere from seven to nine years, some of them started in the elementary program here,” said Nyack Music Director Christine Gero. “What is possible in a good public school system and a good public school music program when the right support is in place and the right teachers are in place, you can actually have a group … that is success. They expect (excellence) of themselves.”

The group will be leaving to tour and perform in Prague and Vienna, March 19-27, said Gero. While in Europe they will be competing at the 2013 Young Prague Festival Competition and will be performing a total of five times in both cities.

 “I’m really looking forward to this competition because we’re not really sure what’s going to be waiting ahead for us. It’s going to be a lot of great music and it’s a beautiful city. It’s a really great opportunity and we’re excited to go and see what we can do there,” said Cellist Corinne Casolaro.

“I’m excited to go. It’s my first time overseas,” said Lein Uong, Violin 2

“I’m looking forward to playing and after playing, the adventuring part. This will be my second time leaving the country. I’m pretty excited,” said Julian Ngolla, Violin 2. “I don’t know what the other competition is going to be like, but with that said, I think we’ll still do pretty good and be pretty high rated.”

“It’s going to be a great experience playing internationally. It’s going to be good. I’m a little nervous. There’s been a lot going on and we’ve had this new piece sprung up on us, but I think we’ll do pretty well,” said Dylan Casolaro, Bass.

Harriet Cornell, Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature, attended the concert and announced that the county formally proclaimed March 18, 2013 as the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra Day in Rockland County. In the proclamation, it reads:

“Because of the talent, work ethic and passion of the musicians and the inspiration of their Music Director Christine Gero, the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra has had overwhelming success, resulting in a great resurgence in the school district’s music program, which recently received the top popular vote at the NEMC Music is Life contest and a substantial cash award to buy new musical instruments.

At their Bon Voyage concert on Monday afternoon, they gave the community a taste of what they'd be performing overseas.

“These young people are just fantastic. They’re a tribute to the schools and the determination to succeed in music. We wish them a lot of good luck in Prague and Vienna. Nyack’s music program is outstanding with all that they do,” said Marie Lorenzini, Nyack Village Trustee

“I think it was a wonderful performance, they really rocked the Baroque music. They’re really talented young musicians and their conductor has done an amazing job in getting things done,” said Mary Alice Hohenberger, whose nephew is going to Prague.

I think this is a fantastic group and is fantastic for the district. I think the kids should be proud of themselves and they’re going to have a great trip,” said Michael Mark, Nyack School Board member.

“What can you say other than ‘fantastic?’ I offered to go with her … This was really fun,” said Pat Opia, who’s the grandmother of Cellist Jalin Cunningham.

Here’s a look at the NHS Chamber Orchestra

Violin 1

• Anna Diyamandoglu
• Nurkit Lucksom
• Jenessa Orpilla
• Alex Panov (Concert Mistress)
• Muuhito Phillips
• Emily Stepper

Violin 2

• Diani Drake
• Georgie Johnson
• Julian Ngolla
• Natasha Sarna (Principal)
• Lein Uong
• Kevin Yohannan

Viola

• Nora Awadallah
• Kyle Borst
• Ariel Brogno (Principal)
• Sean Guiao
• Alice Rudolph-Shabinsky
• Leon Stilwell

Cello

• Charlotte Buck
• Corinne Casolaro (Principal)
• Jalin Cunningham
• Olivier Dumont
• Jeremy Straus (Principal)

Bass

• Rebecca Carriel (Principal)
• Dylan Casolaro
• Jon Zajonc

Percussion

• Ethan Cohen

Here’s a look at their program lineup:

March 21 & 22

• Andante Festivo—Jean Sibelius
• Concerto in G Major “Alla Rustica” Op.51 No. 4 (Presto, Adagio, Allegro)—Antonio Vivaldi
• Waltz No. 1 for String Orchestra Op. 51—Antonin Dvorak
• Slavonic Dance No. 3—Antonin Dvorak / Arr. And Guest Conductor Matthew Lucero
• Blue Rondo a la Turk—Dave Brubeck / arr. Jeremy Cohen

March 23, 24, 25

• Andante Festivo—Jean Sibelius
• Concerto in G Major “Alla Rustica” Op.51 No. 4 (Presto, Adagio, Allegro)—Antonio Vivaldi
• Two Waltzes for String Orchestra Op. 51 No. 1 and 4— Antonin Dvorak
• Serenade for Strings Op. 20 (Allegro Piacevole, Larghetto, Allegretto)
• Blue Rondo a la Turk—Dave Brubeck / arr. Jeremy Cohen

Know someone that's going? Give him/her a shout out in the comments section below