Fox Lane High School Musicians Excel with Five-Fold Increase in NYSSMA Area All-State Selections

Fox Lane High School music students recently performed at the 2025 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Area All-State Festival at SUNY Purchase. Students from high schools across Westchester County were selected for this opportunity based on exceptional ratings earned at the NYSSMA Solo Festival held in the spring of 2025.

“This year, 34 students from Fox Lane High School were selected for Area All-State ensembles. This is a five-fold increase in acceptance since the re-establishment of the Area All-State ensembles in 2022,” said Fox Lane Director of Orchestras and Area All-State String Chair Janine Bergamini. “Being invited to these prestigious ensembles is an acknowledgement of student achievement. Our zone is very competitive, with Fox Lane students showing a strong presence.  This well-deserved honor demonstrates the strength of our students, music department and the quality of our programs offered in BCSD.”

While being selected to perform is a huge honor, the experience itself is next level.

Fox Lane senior Lily Kimble, a violinist, was concertmaster—an incredible achievement within an already noteworthy experience—for String 2024 and Symphony 2025. Concertmasters are chosen through a process that requires teacher and adjudicator recommendations, high solo performance scores and a selection committee. This process comes after the already rigorous process of being chosen to perform in the festival.

“It is so rewarding to perform alongside such amazing musicians, and I am honored to return as concertmaster,” Lily said. “I always have so much fun playing in these high-level ensembles.” 

Junior Angela Russo, a soprano, noted how incredible it was to meet other truly enthusiastic musicians.

“Through Area All-State, I’ve had the privilege of meeting the kindest, most talented, welcoming, and dedicated musicians,” she said. “I’m grateful I got to attend and learn skills from the extraordinary conductors and other students that I’ll carry with me throughout my music journey. It’s an incredible opportunity to sing with such a large group, where even in our short amount of time together, we built an amazing community through our love of music.”

Congratulations to the students below, who were selected to perform at such a high level— and to their teachers: Symphonic Band, Dr. Sarah Matthews, Conductor; Chamber Choir, Kevin Larsen, Conductor; Chamber Orchestra, Janine Bergamini, Conductor.

• Aaron Bai, Trumpet
• Alexander Wolf-Cynamon, Double Bass
• Alexis Downey, Alto
• Amelia Agor, Soprano
• Angela Russo, Soprano
• Camille Bongiorno, Alto
• David Matz, Double Bass
• Dominic Gorman, Violin
• Eliana Chiariello, Viola
• Emalyn Hedges, Alto
• Erin Adams, Violin
• Franke Kelly, Alto
• Gabriel Liebeck, Bass
• Gaetano Sirchia, Trumpet
• Grace Lisman, Alto
• Hades Laskaris, Viola
• Jacob Betensky, Tenor Sax
• Jake Langholtz, Bass
• Juan Alvarez, Bass
• Liliana Kimble, Violin
• Madeline Goldstein, Alto
• Meghana Uday, Viola
• Milo Colon-Roman, Tenor
• Miranda Kent, Alto
• Rebecca Kolb, Violin
• Samuel Liu, Cello
• Shizuki Herzog, Cello
• Stella Chivee, Soprano
• Teddy Kao, Tuba
• Terence Flanagan, French Horn
• Thanawin Yamsiriwong, Trumpet
• Tyler Nakajima-Graham, Violin