SCHOOLS

Five Central students named to All-State music

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The New York State School Music Association has selected five Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District students to perform with its All-State ensembles when the organization gathers for its winter conference in Rochester on Dec. 4.

The selection to NYSSMA’s All-State list is determined by a series of auditions throughout the previous school year. The students named All-State honorees are:

Lydia Librizzi, Calhoun High School, selected to the All-State Orchestra. Librizzi is a first chair viola player in the Long Island String Festival and a member of Calhoun’s choir, which took second place last year in annual Music in the Parks competition in Douglassville, Pa.


Daniel Grange, Kennedy High School, All-State Orchestra. For three years, Grange has played cello in the Kennedy string ensemble and the student volunteer ensemble Playback, which performs at local retirement homes. Grange is a highly skilled pianist as well, having scored 100 on his Level 6 (the highest level) NYSSMA audition on the piano. He has also played piano in the Kennedy pit band, accompanied the Kennedy women’s and concert choirs, and sung bass with the variety and concert choirs.

Mara Friedman, Kennedy High School, All-State Mixed Chorus and Vocal Jazz. Last year, Friedman was chosen to the All-Sate mixed chorus and as an alternate to the vocal jazz ensemble and was a member of the All-County vocal jazz ensemble in 2013 and 2014. Friedman is a member of Kennedy’s variety choir, girls’ choir, jazz ensemble and drama club, and has held leadership positions, including president and vice president, in the organizations. She also takes voice and trumpet lessons.

Cara Slovinsky, Kennedy High School, All-State Chorus. Slovinsky is a member of Kennedy’s variety choir and girls’ chorus, of which she is president, as well as the Key and drama clubs. She also plays piano and bass clarinet.

Alyssa Rabinowitz, Mepham High School, All-State Chorus. Rabinowitz is a member of Mepham’s choir and vocal jazz ensemble. She is also an active member of the Skull and Bones Drama Club.

In addition to the All-State selections, Calhoun junior Elijah Maduro was selected as an alternate to NYSSMA’s symphonic and jazz bands. Maduro plays the tenor saxophone and is a member of the wind ensemble as well as Calhoun’s jazz band.

At the Oct. 15 meeting of the Bellmore-Merrick Board of Education, all six students were recognized with certificates of congratulations.