By contributing writer Dzenisa Hodzic, ’28
Every year during the spring, sophomores and juniors at J-DHS will have the option to try out for NYSSMA through the J-D music program. Seniors Will Lesser, Olivia Comerford, and Anna Hasegawa have been selected to go to the 2024 NYSSMA state conference. The conference will be held in Rochester from December 5-8.
NYSSMA is a professional music organization in the state of New York which selects students from elementary school to high school to perform scales, solos, and ensemble pieces of their choice. Competing is offered for both singers and instrumentalists. If a student gets between a 98 and 100 on their performance, they will be selected to go to the NYSSMA state conference. There are six levels for music, with level one being the least difficult and six being the most advanced. “It is extremely difficult to get in,” said chorus teacher Eric Toyama.
“I was very nervous during the whole selection process but I felt so relieved once I got the news that I’ve been selected,” said Lesser. Lesser will be performing a level six solo. Lesser grew up around music since his mother is an opera singer and music education teacher. He mentions that his mother is his idol and that he hopes to follow in her footsteps and become a performer. Lesser top picks for college are The Juilliard School or Eastman School Of Music.
“I was also very nervous, I didn’t expect to get in but look where we are now,” said Comerford. She will be singing in a chorus with the best singers in the state. Comerford got into music after she joined the Syracuse Children’s Theater while she was in the sixth grade. She says that NYSSMA is a way to improve your singing by performing in front of a judge. Comerford also plans to pursue an education in music after high school by applying to Ithaca College or Boston University.
Hasagawa will be performing in an all state chorus this year since she passed all the requirements on her level six solo last year. “I was nervous and excited to see my results since I was able to perform at NYSSMA last year,” said Hasegawa. Starting from a young age, Hasegawa has always had a passion for music since her mom was an opera singer and she was a part of the Syracuse Children’s Theater. Hasegawa plans on going to Juilliard.
Good luck at NYSSMA Will, Olivia, and Anna!
