ONEONTA, N.Y. --
The SUNY College at Oneonta will host more than 300 student
musicians chosen from 47 different schools in Otsego, Delaware,
Schoharie, Chenango, Tioga, and Montgomery counties for rehearsals
and performances at the annual New
York State School Music Association Zone 8 Area All-State Music
Festival to be held in the Hunt Union Ballroom on campus on Friday,
November 16, and Saturday, November 17. The students will present a
concert starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $4 for adults
and $3 for students, and members of the community are invited to
attend.
The concert will feature the Concert Band directed by Gary Stith,
the Women's Chorus directed by Rae Jean Teeter, the String Orchestra
directed by Cayenna Ponchione, and the Mixed Chorus directed by G.
Robert Kolb.
Gary Stith currently serves as Coordinator of Music Education and
Conductor of Symphonic Winds at the Greatbatch School of Music at
Houghton College. His high school bands in his former employment at
the Williamsville Central Schools won nine superior ratings at
various national and regional music festivals.
Rae Jean Teeter's choral program at Guilderland High School
continues to be recognized throughout the state for its excellence
in performance and its development of theoretical and aural skills.
She currently serves as chairperson of the High School Repertoire
and standards committee.
Cayenna Ponchione, originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, currently
serves as music director of the Binghamton Community, the Ithaca
Community, and the GrassRoots Festival Chamber orchestras. Her
compositions for percussion have received widespread performances.
G. Roberts Kolb is Professor and Director of Choral Music at
Hamilton College. He also serves as guest conductor of several
operas at the Earlville Opera House and the Rome Capitol Theatre.
Recent on-stage performances as a soloist have include roles in
"Sweeny Todd," "Iolanthe," and "My Fair Lady."
Area school music directors serving as chairs of the performing
groups include Andy O'Dell of Worcester, Cheryl Ernst of Morris,
Carol Erlandson of Walton, and Kerri Hogle of Milford. George Lesh
of Unatego serves as Zone 8 Representative, and
Dr. Robert Barstow, Chair of the
Music Department
at SUNY-Oneonta, serves as Host and Festival Coordinator.
More information about the event is available from Dr. Barstow at
(607) 436-3412.
|
