The Valley Stream Central High School District is proud to announce that three student musicians have been selected for the 2023 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Festival. They will participate in concerts held at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY, during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference, scheduled from November 29 through December 2.
Violinist Tinatin Narimanidze has been selected for the All-State Symphony Orchestra’s first violin section. Born in Brooklyn, Tinatin attended Wheeler Avenue Elementary School and is currently a senior at Central High School. She has been playing the violin since she was six years old. She also participated in the 2022 All-State festival as a junior and intends to pursue music performance at the university level next year.
Additionally, two Central students were selected as alternates for the festival. They are senior Alessandra Espocia, a violinist, and junior Sahana Benny, a soprano.
Alessandra started playing the violin in fourth grade, and studied under Victoria Alaimo’s program at Memorial Junior High School. She currently plays in the orchestra at Central under teacher Tara Zamorano, as well as in various outside performing groups in the area.
Sahana sang in chorus under teacher Helen Kontoleon at Memorial and has been working with Amy Neuner at Central for the last three years in the school’s chorus and select choir. All three of these outstanding musicians have been regular NYSSMA participants since elementary school and have participated in All-County Festivals for years.
“These three standout student musicians are among the very best, most accomplished, and brightest in the Valley Stream Central High School District,” said Dr. Adam Erdos, District Director of Fine & Performing Arts, and NYSSMA’s All-State Instrumental Jazz Chairperson. “Their talent, dedication and hard work are evident in this achievement and in all that they do. They will be excellent representatives of our community, our district and our music department.”
Tara Zamorano, from left, Tinatin Narimanidze, Alessandra Espocia, Sahana Benny and Amy Neuner.
NYSSMA is the largest state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. The mission of NYSSMA is to advance music education across New York State for its membership and students in member school programs.