On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the Yorktown High School Chamber Orchestra received the coveted Gold with Distinction award at the annual NYSSMA majors festival. Being the highest award that can be received, the chamber orchestra is elated at this impressive achievement.  NYSSMA majors is a performance before judges, especially for ensembles of any kind including band, chorus, and orchestra. This year the adjudication took place at the Monroe-Woodbury high school. Despite being a short trip spanning from the first through the sixth period, it required months of preparation and hard work individually and as an ensemble. 

Three pieces were performed: the first two movements of ‘St. Paul’s Suite’ by Gustav Holst, ‘Of Glorious Plumage’ by Richard Meyer, and ‘Transformación’ by Leía Sofía Méndez. As these pieces required a great amount of work due to their respective difficulties, months of rehearsal, in addition to solo practice, built up to this performance. The two judges who scored the performance praised the chamber orchestra in its demonstration of musical maturity through movement as well as attention to detail; they agreed on the ensemble’s pleasant sound. A job well done!

A big thanks to Dr. Bhasin for his extreme dedication to the quality of the ensemble and Ms. Orlando for making this trip possible.