Two Eastchester Students Selected for Prestigious NYSSMA Winter Conference

The performing arts program in Eastchester has no shortage of talented musicians, and the rest of New York State is taking notice.

This week, two Eastchester students were recognized by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), for their talent and craft, as EHS senior Matthew Gutierrez and EMS sixth grader Natalie Leighton were selected to participate in the NYSSMA All-State Mixed Choir and Young Composer Showcase, respectively.

NYSSMA All-State bands, chorus, orchestra and jazz ensembles are honors groups composed of approximately 825 of the top students from school music departments across the state. The eight groups are directed by renowned guest conductors and will perform during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference on Dec. 3-6 in Rochester, NY.

Gutierrez, a tenor, has been a mainstay in the Eastchester performing arts program for the last several years, singing in both the EHS Chamber Choir and EHS Mixed Choir throughout his time in high school. He was also nominated for a Metro Award last spring for his part in the Players Club's Spring Musical production of Groundhog Day. 

He noted that even though he participated in NYSSMA's All-County ensembles when he was in middle school, this was his first time going through the rigorous audition process as a high schooler.

“I wanted to experience it before I graduated; all of my friends were doing these auditions for trumpet and band," he said. "So, I thought I'd give it a shot, even though I wasn't really expecting much."

Gutierrez got to work with EHS Choral Director Jeremy Messmer to prepare his piece—Maria, from West Side Story—for the audition and was thrilled when he learned that he had been chosen for the Mixed Choir ensemble.

"I thought I did a good job with the solo, it's a fun song to sing. But I was a little iffier on the sight-reading portion," he said. "So I was a little surprised when I found out that I actually did pretty well on that part. I think this experience is going to be really nice, learning that music on your own, then getting up there in December and seeing everything come together in a short time."

Gutierrez wont be the only Eagle heading to the Winter Conference, however, as sixth grader Natalie Leighton will also be making her way up north in December.

Leighton was chosen for the Young Composer Showcase based on the submission of her original piece Bouncy Fun, which she wrote last year as a fifth grade student at Anne Hutchinson.

The sixth grader—who is also a proficient violinist and pianist—said she is eager for the opportunity to work with other like-minded youngsters at the Winter Conference workshops and fine-tune her piece—which she describes as “bouncy with a little surprise in the middle"—under the guidance of professional composers.

“I was surprised and excited when I found out, and I’m looking forward to going there and getting more feedback on my song!” said Leighton.

Congratulations to our NYSSMA All-State invitees!