Three Waterloo High School musicians have earned Area All-State selections, with two also chosen to perform in the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a third earning a Conference All-State choir spot.
Juniors Marie Evans, a flute player, and Nicholas DeMillo, a clarinet player, and senior Mason O'Connell, a bass vocalist, will represent Waterloo at Area All-State in November, according to the Waterloo Central School District.
The Area All-State ensembles will perform at Canandaigua Central School District under guest conductors. Selection recognizes student performers who earn exceptional scores on Level VI New York State School Music Association solo auditions, the district said.
First Conference All-State selection since 2019
O'Connell also earned a place as a Bass I in the Conference All-State Mixed Choir, becoming Waterloo's first Conference All-State selection since 2019.
He received a perfect score at the May NYSSMA Solo Festival for his performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams' “Whither Must I Wander.”
O'Connell will perform in one of three concerts at the Eastman Theater and Innovations Theater during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference in December.
The district said the All-State experiences give students opportunities to work with musicians from other schools and guest conductors, exchange ideas and learn techniques. Students prepare the same music independently before joining together as an ensemble.
Evans and DeMillo head to New York City
Evans and DeMillo will perform with the Macy's Great American Marching Band in New York City on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.
The band draws high school students from across the country. Applicants submit audition videos showing them performing an instrumental solo and completing a marching band box drill.
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