2025-2026 FESTIVAL EVENTS

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On Thursday, May 1st, State Senator @shelleybmayer and County Executive @kenjenkinsny will be recognizing every @nyssma_official All-State student from Westchester County! This event is open to the public. Details are below: Thursday, May 1 3:30pm-5:00pm Westchester County Center (Little Theater) 198 Central Ave, White Plains, NY 10601 For those students who wish to perform, please check in with your teacher regarding the Google Drive of sheet music. Please bring a music stand! Thank you to teacher Dr. Anthony Maceli (Valhalla) for organizing this event!
*Teachers, check your email for the full scholarship application!* It's time for the 2nd annual Padt Presidents scholarship, open to 12th grade students who will be majoring in music education at an accredited college. This scholarship has been inspired by the contributions of our WCSMA past Presidents over the decades, as well as the necessity to assist the next generation of teachers and leaders in the field of music education. We are asking that you distribute this scholarship application to your students who have indicated a desire to become music educators. In order for an application to be complete, we require: 1) Application cover page (emailed) 2) A student essay of no less than 500 words describing their career goals and how they hope to make a positive impact in the world of music education. 3) A written teacher recommendation letter. 4) 2-3 minute video of your student performing on their primary instrument. This video must be continuous and unedited. All required materials must be sent to Jon Riss at rissj@hohschools.org. Applications are due May 6, 2025 One scholarship will be awarded in late May in the amount of $1,000. “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.” - John of Salisbury
*Teachers, please check your email for the full application* The Westchester County School Music Association, in tribute to their exemplary service and character, has elected to name its annual scholarship in memory of Helen and Milton A. Williams. Once again, WCSMA is offering two (2) $500 scholarships for students in the county. These scholarships are available for students entering grades 10, 11 and 12 in the 2025-2026 school year, and must be used for summer study in music. The criteria are as follows: ● Student must be a good school citizen. ● Student must demonstrate outstanding musicianship and leadership. ● Student’s school music teacher must be a member of the Westchester County School Music Association in good standing. ● Student must be an active participant in WCSMA and/or NYSSMA events, such as the WCSMA All-County, Area All-State, or NYSSMA solo festivals. Please submit the following along with the application for consideration: ● A music teacher recommendation, stating why the student is deserving of such a scholarship. ● A student essay of at least 250 words stating how the student will use this scholarship to enhance their own musicianship and how it will enhance their school community. *Students who have already received this scholarship will not be considered in consecutive years. Applications, along with supporting documents must be e-mailed no later than May 6th . All recommendations from school/private music teachers must be e-mailed. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application should be scanned and sent via e-mail to rissj@hohschools.org.
We had a lovely dinner this week to honor the @nyssma_official Area All-State and @wcsma.ny All-County festival coordinators and chairs. Many thanks to all of our volunteers, both in the photo and those who could not attend! Thank you to @rubysoysterbar for hosting us! TJ Bastone Janine Bergamini Dana Celestino Katie Chan Chee Emily Denler Erica Denler Kimberly Dunkin Katherine Filatov Hannah Geiling Emily Ilson Michael Maino Shadman Mirza Lauren Morabito James Mullen Patrick Murphy Ricky Myint Melissa Neyer Jenny Pyne Madeline Rende Jon Riss Gabrielle Savino Andrea Stock William Tonissen Jamie Yoo
Congratulations to all of our students, teachers, and conductors on a successful 2025 All-County Jazz festival! A huge thank you to guest conductors @jimsnidero and Dr. Anthony Maceli (Valhalla) and our All-County Jazz Coordinator James Mullen (@mamkmusic) for organizing and hosting this event. Bravo to all! A huge thank you to @mamaroneck_public_schools for hosting!
We have positions up for election on the WCSMA Board this upcoming academic year (terms begin July 1, 2025 and end June 30, 2027). We are committed to working with the WCSMA Board to ensure that all have a place at the table, and we encourage all interested in serving as a volunteer for Westchester County’s music students and teachers to apply. * Corresponding Secretary * Membership Chair * All-County Orchestra Coordinator * NEW: Hospitality Coordinator * NEW: Government Relations Coordinator Letters of application are due by 5:00 PM on April 4, 2025. We look forward to hearing from you!

March 5, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Happy Music in Our Schools Month®!!

There are many people to thank for their incredible work for music education this year in Westchester County even though we are barely into 2025.  I want to highlight Kim Dunkin and Matt Royal, who were present in Albany this past Monday to advocate for music education with New York State Senators and Assemblymembers who represent Westchester County.

If you are feeling inspired to join these many wonderful volunteers to advocate for music education in Westchester County, I strongly encourage you to apply for a position on our board.  President-Elect Kathleen Feldman has reached out to the membership about the positions up for election this year.  If you have any questions about any of the positions, feel free to reach out!  I would like to highlight two of these positions: Hospitality Coordinator and Government Relations Coordinator.  The board voted in 2023 to reinstate the Hospitality Coordinator position which had been vacant for some time previously.  We received no applicants for that position that year, and would like to encourage applications this year – you’ll have plenty of help from those of us on the board who love to plan events, and imagine how popular you’ll be if you’re responsible for implementing the delivery of delicious food to WCSMA events! Additionally, at our February meeting, the board voted to add a Government Relations Coordinator position to the board.  This position, which involves frequent public advocacy for music education, is one that we anticipate being vital in the immediate future.

Finally in the spirit of thanks – while we can never hear this often enough from our children, families, administrators, and colleagues – thank you for all you do for your students socially and emotionally just by providing a music classroom for them.  They need it more than ever, and they and we are much richer in spirit because of it!

Cheers,

Jon Riss, President