On March 6, 7, and 8 three of GRB’s talented musicians will perform in the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) honors band. Senior flautist Emily Porter, junior clarinetist Jessica Lapage, and junior trumpeter Anthony Lucas have been invited to this prestigious group and are looking forward to the experience.

Junior Anthony Lucas said, ”I’m looking forward to NYSBDA especially because I was not able to go to Conference All State. The idea of having to room with a stranger is kind of weird to me but that is only a small part of the whole weekend. Overall, I am very excited for this experience and to meet new and talented people.”

Porter had to make a tough choice between playing in GRB’s pit orchestra for The Music Man and participating in NYSBDA. She wound up choosing to do NYSBDA because, as she said, “NYSBDA is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I know that there will always be a pit orchestra out there for me to play in. I was really disappointed that I wasn’t able to go to All-State so I feel that this kind of makes up for that.”

NYSSMA Conference All State is a four-day conference for the best of the best musicians. Students must score perfect 100s to be considered. In the last 12 years, only four GRB students have been accepted. They include seniors Vita Dean, Kaylee Foster, Leah O’Hanlon, and Andrew Smith.

Senior Vita Dean, who has participated in NYSBDA in past years, said, “I feel like NYSBDA is a really good experience. It is a huge honor and privilege to be a part of that group.”

The event will be held in Liverpool, New York with the concert on March 8. Congratulations to GRB’s participants for all of your hard work!