Three Fox Lane Students Are Headed to NYSSMA’s All-State Conference
Fox Lane High School juniors Lily Kimble and David Matz were chosen as All-State musicians for the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) winter conference. Jacob Betensky, also a junior, was chosen as an alternate. The conference, which takes place in December, brings together the top student musicians from across the state.
During a typical year, more than 6,500 sophomores and juniors from across the state participate in solo evaluations in the hopes of being selected as one of almost 900 musicians to play in one of the All-State ensembles.
“I was really excited when I found out,” said David, who plays the double bass. “I'm super excited for the conference. What really sets it above other music get-togethers in my mind is the scale. People from every corner of the state will be there, and I'm very excited to meet them, especially in the context of playing music!”
Jacob, who plays the tenor saxophone, was similarly thrilled.
“When I learned about my All-State selection, I was ecstatic. It was amazing to know that all my hard work paid off.”
Lily plays the violin and is having a more difficult time wrapping her head around it.
“It still hasn't really set in yet,” she said. “I was surprised, considering how competitive the music world is — especially around New York — but I felt really grateful for the chance to participate in an orchestra with other dedicated players.”
All three students noted the importance of practicing to get to this level of success.
“My preparation consisted of tons of practice; it's the single most important thing for any musician,” David said. “Almost every day, I'd take some time to work on my piece. My recommendation to anyone who wants to improve at an instrument is to try and get in the habit of practicing; even ten or so minutes per day can make a world of difference.”
Jacob agreed, sharing some thoughts on how preparing for challenges like this one has helped out in other areas of his life.
“The satisfaction of turning a challenging piece into something that feels second nature is truly incredible,” he said. “This process of growth in music mirrors many other areas of life. Through setting goals and steadily working towards them, I've realized that my musical journey has not only enhanced my playing but also positively impacted my academics and other aspects of my life. I hope everyone can discover something that brings them the same sense of fulfillment that music has given me.”
Lily noted the importance of the mental aspect of preparing for important auditions.
“A lot of my preparation was definitely trying to prepare mentally, since an audition like this one carries a lot of pressure,” she said.
As they start to prepare for the All-State concerts, where they’ll be led by highly regarded conductors like Dr. Ching-Chun Lai from Rutgers University and Helen Cha-Pyo from the New Jersey Youth Symphony and Wharton Arts, they are excited for what is sure to be an incredible experience.
“I'm most looking forward to the conference because I'll get to do something I enjoy with many others who share the same love and passion for music,” Jacob said.
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