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Four CA students perform at High School All-County Festival

Four students dressed to perform in All County

Four students from Chester Academy embraced the spotlight at the High School All-County Festival recently at Cornwall High School. Freshman Noah Keegan participated in band playing bass clarinet, with sophomores Joseph Veltri, William Peterman and senior Yamilet Lopez-Cortez joining the chorus for a special melodic opportunity. 

“Congratulations to the four high school musicians that participated in the High School All-County Festival this past weekend!” said music teacher Rachel Scali. “They were selected out of many musicians in Orange County to represent Chester Academy, and we are so proud of our musicians and their hard work!”

To join the All-County festival, students are tasked each year to learn challenging repertoire and audition for a spot. Once accepted, students rehearse and perform a concert with other students throughout Orange County.

This experience not only allows students to further explore their musical talents, but it also provides them with opportunities to meet other students with similar interests and passions. 

“It was honestly amazing because I've done this a couple times, and I've even gone to the state level; so I definitely have experience in what it's like,” said Yamilet. But every time it's surreal. Every time you get to meet new people, you get to hear new voices and you're like, ‘This is so good.’”

During the All-County festival, musicians work with a guest conductor at the festival on varied selections to perform a beautiful concert at the highest caliber in Orange County. 

Students practice performing in harmony during the two-day event before the main performance. Rehearsals take up the first day and the morning of the second day, with the final hours of the festival reserved for the performance.

"I love the music; the music is just a great time,” Joseph said. “This is my first time actually doing the all county festival, I put it off for a long time. I will totally be doing it again my junior year, I may shoot for All-State.”

Musical adventures will continue this spring, as four sixth grade students from Chester Academy will participate in the elementary All-County festival in April. Alina Mercado will be playing in the band, with Jackson Toledo, Sophia Ramery and Zackary Kreischer singing the chorus.