Sayville Musicians at NYSBDA Symposium in Syracuse

Middle School Band Director Mrs. Kim Lattanzio asked Ava Helbock to share her experience with the Middle School Honor Band.

"NYSBDA is an experience that I am extremely honored to have gotten,” said Ava, “an experience I will certainly never forget. The New York State Band Directors Association selected students from schools all across the state to participate in an All-State Honor Band. I was selected based on my NYSSMA score on the oboe and my teacher’s recommendation. I represented Sayville in the Middle School Division. I spent the weekend in Syracuse, and we rehearsed all weekend to perform a concert. I attended leadership workshops and met so many talented kids my age. My conductor was Dr. Gamboa from the University of Cincinnati, and he did an astounding job in teaching us techniques and tricks to make is sound better and more professional. This band was not like any other musical group I have ever been a part of. We moved extremely quickly, and as a result, we learned that in order to be great, we all had to work together. After just two days, we became a family of extremely talented individuals. I am so grateful to have been a part of this amazing opportunity, and I have made some truly incredible friends. I feel as if I came back from this experience as a changed, more experienced young musician.”