Over the weekend of November 22, 2025, Tri-Valley was proudly represented at the Zone 9 NYSSMA Area All-State Music Festival, held at Cornwall High School. Aaron Edwards, Brady Knight, and Logan Weyant were selected to perform in the highly competitive Mixed Chorus, while Gwen Redman earned a spot in the Orchestra on French horn.
These students are truly exceptional, and here’s why.
The Area All-State ensembles are composed of the top high school musicians across multiple counties in Zone 9, a region that spans from the rural areas of Sullivan County to the large, high-enrollment districts of the lower Hudson Valley. Many of these AAA-class districts have music program participation numbers that rival our entire student population. Selection is based solely on performance excellence, not school size, which makes earning a spot in these ensembles a major accomplishment.
To even be considered, students must prepare and perform a Level 6 NYSSMA solo, the most advanced difficulty level, comparable to pieces performed in university senior recitals or by professional musicians. Most students also audition with the All-State designation, meaning they are evaluated at the highest standard with no room for error.
In addition to their solo, students perform scales from memory and sight-read a challenging excerpt they’ve never seen before, with just one minute to prepare. Every detail counts, intonation, rhythm accuracy, pitch precision, and even the slightest mistakes can result in major point deductions.
Even earning a Gold rating on an All-State Level 6 solo does not guarantee placement in these ensembles due to the intense competition. In past years, students with scores in the mid-to-upper 90s have not been selected, underscoring just how elite these groups are.
For Aaron, Brady, Gwen, and Logan to rise to this level, while also balancing demanding coursework and being multi-season athletes, is truly impressive.
Congratulations to these outstanding Tri-Valley musicians, we are incredibly proud of you!