MEXICO, NY – More than a dozen student musicians from Mexico Academy & Central School District earned selection to the All-County Band.
Both the Senior High All-County and Junior High All-County bands took the stage at Paul V. Moore High School in mid-January for a concert highlighting Oswego County student musician excellence.
Students from Mexico High School selected to the Senior High All-County Band included Emily Bennett (baritone saxophone) Riley Gagnier (clarinet), Dylan Hoey (trumpet), Damien King (bass clarinet), Cosette Laffan (French horn) and Kinzy Laffan (alto saxophone).
“I was excited to see the extra effort in preparing both the audition music and Festival repertoire pay off for the students in the form of an excellent performance,” said MHS Bands Director Brian Carnes. “We had more students audition this year than we have in recent memory, and I know that foundation they have laid by striving for excellence will serve the band well moving forward.”
Those selected for the Junior High All-County Band were Makayla Bee (trombone), McKenzie Bristol (tuba), Terra Gagnier (alto saxophone), Ethan Gilbert (clarinet), Alexis Jackson (flute), Isabella Ladd (flute), Owen Larrabee (trombone), Sophie Madden (oboe), Joseph Mulcahey (trumpet), Ava Petrocci (euphonium), Marshall Rowley (clarinet), Madison Snyder (mallett percussion), Tilly Tunis (trumpet), Jacob Upcraft (clarinet) and Ava Warchol (euphonium).
Riley Gagnier, a junior at MHS, said students auditioned in front of judges who picked the bands based on musicianship and technique.
Those who earned All-County status spent a Friday afternoon learning from their conductor, Dr. Timothy Diem of Syracuse University for the Senior High and Kristyn Cutler, a veteran music director at Westmoreland CSD, for the Junior High.
“(Dr. Diem) was a very nice guy, talked a lot of different techniques you could use to play your instrument better and different ways to play the music,” said Damien King, a MACS junior. “Over the course of the two days it went by very smoothly and prepared four songs and sounded very good.”
Cosette Laffan, also a junior, said the experience always gives you something to take away.
“It’s great, it’s another level of playing and really cool to experience that firsthand,” she said. “The fact that you are a part of that experience is really awesome.”
The All-County Band is presented by the Oswego County Music Educators’ Association (OCMEA).
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