Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra Celebrating Our 10th Season Providence-Prague-Vienna

It is hard to believe this is my 10th year in Nyack and every time I look at this photo of our current Nyack HS Chamber Orchestra I remember them on those first days in 4th grade beginning string classes.  When you get to this (mid-career) point it does have a sweetness to it. All those moments that you dream about such as, "When this class of beginners gets to the high school...." is now actually a reality.  I have had the unique privilege of spending my first 8 years in Nyack in both the elementary schools and the high school.  Seeing the students at the beginning and the end of the process has been incredible.  And now here we are, some of my first and finest groups of "babies" now about to take the stage in Providence, RI at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival and then off to Prague and Vienna for another competition and tour!  It is a memorable season for all of us and a monumental year of great memories.  I can not imagine a more fulfilling career moment--this is truly the icing on the cake!

Nyack won the NEMC Music is Life Contest for $10,000 in instruments and $1,000 towards our music programs!  This is a huge accomplishment for us.  16 schools were entered and our video submission was seen over 3500 times!  We have gotten word that votes were cast all over the country and the world from as far away as Japan, Australia, Turkey and Israel.  We are all so proud and happy with the accomplishment, and of course can not wait to use the new instruments!  Thank you to everyone that voted and spread the word.  I received so many beautiful emails, many from retired Nyack teachers such as this one:


Once you have been part of the Nyack community, it always stays in your heart. So......there wasn't any hesitation that this would be sent on to everyone I knew. When it was sent out to family and friends, I was surprised to hear that these people sent it on, and their friends sent it on. Quite a few people receiving this email to vote were teachers on Long Island. They came right on board and even promoted it with some of their colleagues. It never is surprising to see how easily teachers support each other and their students. Everyone I have told is so happy for our students!

Here's a link the an ARTICLE written about our Entry