Opportunities at South High

I became aware of the amazing opportunities music brings when I began pursuing my passion for music and started playing the clarinet in the middle school band. The directors and lesson teachers I had there encouraged me to stick with playing. This was because they knew I had potential and a bright future ahead of me, especially at South. As a result of continuing to play, I graduated middle school earlier in June and started playing in Williamsville South’s Wind Symphony in the fall. So far in Wind Symphony, I’ve joined two extra clubs by being in the class, marched in the halls during South’s homecoming, played with the South bands during the halftime of the homecoming game, and had a thrilling fall concert at South with The Mill Middle School bands. I was also given the chance to go on a twenty-day music trip around Europe, which I decided to push to the side and carry on another year in high school. Overall, for it only being December of my freshman year in high school, I have played in astounding environments and am participating in outside interests with other students who love music in the atmosphere. 

Clubs and Extracurriculars

As mentioned above, I joined two music clubs at South: Band Council and Jazz Band. Band Council is a small club group that only meets once every couple of months. We organize events in Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble, all of the Band classes at South. The jazz band is a rehearsal group that meets every Thursday morning before school and plays jazz music that is eventually performed in concert.  Besides those two groups, there is a swing choir that Chorus students join, along with a smaller crew that meets by Chorales, Concert Choir, Dynamics, Mixed Chorus, Philharmonic, and Symphony orchestra - which are the chorus and orchestra classes that are offered. The music clubs at South are great opportunities if you want to dive deeper into playing and they are handy for college applications.

Trips around the Country

In all of the music classes, the directors/teachers take their time to plan and fundraise marvelous trips that the big music groups can go on. Last year, the Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble at South fundraised to be able to travel to Washington D.C. for a few days to tour and play in front of new audiences. Chorus also plans a Disney trip for the students. Another trip that is offered through the music programs is a senior trip for a weekend, where the seniors in music have one more time to travel with their friends that they have been rehearsing with all of high school. All of these trips are terrific ways for high school students to make memories with their friends while being able to branch out of Williamsville and explore new cities. 

AMA 

AMA, American Music Abroad, is an American music program and company that takes music students from all across the country, and on tours abroad throughout Europe every summer. These trips are typically about twenty days, and tour cities in countries like Germany, Italy, Austria, Croatia, France, and Switzerland. This past year, every band student at South was offered an opportunity to go on this trip. This tour is an amazing opportunity because you travel with new music students you have never met before, make new friends, perform in beautiful cities, learn how to be independent, and have the chance to form a deeper love for music. Chorus, Orchestra, and Band students are all eligible to go on this trip, considering all three groups can perform in concert halls across the continent. If a student decides to go on this trip, their knowledge of music will expand, which looks amazing for college applications and college essays. Therefore, American Music Abroad is one of the best music programs sponsored in Europe and can create memories of a lifetime while checking countries off your bucket list. 

NYSSMA Festivals

The New York State School Music Association, or NYSSMA, is a professional alliance of some of the best student musicians and music teachers across New York State. If a student at South wanted to perform a solo for a NYSSMA festival, they could talk to their director or lesson teacher so they could provide the student with a solo at a level that suits them. Even if a student performs a solo, or a music piece with an ensemble and they don’t make NYSSMA, it’s a considerable way for students to become better musicians. At South, if a Band, Chorus, or Orchestra student made NYSSMA, the students that made the festival will be mentioned in the next concert program. 

ECMEA All County 

ECMEA All County is similar to NYSSMA. The music teachers at South offer and encourage students to audition for this festival for the same reason as NYSSMA - because at the end of the day, it makes high schoolers better musicians. Like NYSSMA, the Erie County Music Educators Association (ECMEA) has festivals annually for chorus, orchestra, and band students. However, All County offers a jazz festival alongside those options. Students typically audition for this music group in January, while the performance is in March. This association has a Senior Music Group for tenth through twelfth graders, and a Junior Music group for middle schoolers and generally ninth graders. 

Homecoming

Homecoming at South was one of the best experiences of my life. All members of Band participate in South's yearly marching band program during homecoming, where students play marching music, and perform in the halls, in the parade, and during halftime at the big homecoming game! Homecoming at South is a blast because this is the time of the year when the band starts to connect as a whole. By this I mean the Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble players start to get to know each other, and the music sounds very impressive. I was able to connect with other clarinet players in the Wind Symphony because the upperclassmen were great role models in showing me how to march and follow along. Playing in the halls at South is surreal because the whole school comes out to watch you play. One of the pieces South plays every year is “Billie's Swag” and "On Wisconsin,” Williamsville South’s Fight song. For the most part, playing in the marching band for a week at South is pleasing because you are so happy and proud of your achievements in the band through all of the hype and applause. 

As you can see, music is taken very seriously at Williamsville South High School. From playing in the Marching Band to performing at ECMEA All County, to finishing the year with an AMA tour, you have had a year of great experiences being in music. Being able to write about these music experiences wouldn’t have been possible without the wonderful music teachers who have influenced me and other students at South. I’d love to thank Mrs. Decker and Mr. Modlich who taught me in middle school to lead me to high school. I’d also love to thank Mr. Cool and Mrs. Conti, who provided these wonderful opportunities and pushed the band to be their best in Wind Symphony every day. Not only are these teachers providing great experiences for the high schoolers and making them great musicians, but they are teaching them life skills that they will carry on forever. It’s such a pleasure to be able to mention everything music has provided me just as a freshman. I can’t wait for opportunities to come these next three years. I highly encourage everyone at South to appreciate, acknowledge, and consider the music opportunities because it does impact the person you can become in the future. Go Billies!