Meet our editorial board

Emmy Cohan

Emmy, a freshman at Williamsville South High School, has been playing the clarinet since fifth grade. Alongside music, she stays busy with the jazz band, basketball, field hockey, and the environmental club. One of Emmy’s favorite moments in music was performing with her jazz band for the first time. To Emmy, music is all about making memories and forming connections. Outside of music, she loves experimenting in the kitchen (salads are her specialty!) and spending time with her little sister.

Ben Lliguicota

Ben, a freshman at Williamsville East, has been playing the violin for four years. He performed in the NYSSMA Symphony Orchestra, and is currently a member of the Greater Buffalo Youth Symphony Orchestra (GBYSO), St. Greg’s Music Ministry, and the Gifted Math Program (GMP). His favorite music experience was performing at Winterfest, a moment that solidified his passion for growth and improvement through music. Ben also has a unique hobby—he enjoys collecting interesting stationery!

Kylie Moore

Kylie is a freshman at Williamsville South High School and has been playing the French horn for five years. She’s involved in lacrosse, volleyball, basketball, jazz band, and the environmental club. For Kylie, marching with the band was an unforgettable experience that brought excitement to her musical journey. To her, music is a universal language that beautifully connects people without the need for words. When she’s not playing music, Kylie enjoys camping and exploring the outdoors.

River Santos

River, a freshman at Williamsville East, has been playing the clarinet since sixth grade. She is active in art club, field hockey, lacrosse, and Spanish and Latin clubs. A standout moment in River’s music journey was when she performed in their middle school’s spring concert and finally felt confident playing alongside their peers, after dedicating time and effort. For River, music is a space for creativity and wonder, bringing silence to life through sound. In her free time, River enjoys diving into a good book.

Riley Viyannalage

Riley, a sophomore at Williamsville East High School, has been playing the alto sax since fifth grade. She’s an active member of Science Olympiad, the Gifted Math Program (GMP), and Unity in Diversity. Her favorite music memory is performing at her first Winterfest. For Riley, music is a way to express her passion and connect with others who share the same enthusiasm. She also has a golden retriever!

Hannah You

Hannah, a junior at Williamsville East, has been playing the cello for five years. She balances music with varsity girls’ tennis, Science Olympiad, FBLA, and Model UN. One of her favorite music memories was performing at Winterfest, where she felt the power of sharing her creativity with an audience. To Hannah, music is a meaningful outlet for self-expression.

Get involved!

This newsletter is a platform for your stories, ideas, and creativity. Whether you’re a kindergartener learning your first notes or a senior reflecting on years of musical memories, we’d love to hear from you!

Submit your ideas, experiences, or content through our online form and join us in building a passionate newsletter that celebrates the joy of music across the Williamsville schools.

Stay tuned for our next edition, packed with inspiring stories, concert overviews, and interviews from within our community. Together, let’s make music the heart of our schools!

Best regards,

The Williamsville Music Boosters Editorial Board