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Chamber orchestra triumphs at WorldStrides Heritage Music Festival & Competition in NYC

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The Warwick Valley High School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Elissa Maynard, achieved remarkable success on Saturday, April 25th, at the prestigious WorldStrides Heritage Music Competition at Riverside Church in New York City. Competing against 24 ensembles from Canada, California, Maine, New York, and Philadelphia, the orchestra earned first place in multiple categories, showcasing exceptional talent and dedication.

The orchestra performed three stunning selections: Lion City by Soon Hee Newbold, Water Lily by Matt Riley, and La Cascara by Jeremy Wollstenhulme. Their performance captivated the audience and adjudicators. Dr. Oscar Petty, a competition adjudicator, expressed profound admiration: “It would be an honor to perform my oboe and be accompanied by such caliber musicians. I am a changed man after today’s performance. Not only did you play the notes with accuracy and intonation, but you included every nuance, dynamic, and detail, which is a direct result of your director.”

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During the awards ceremony, the Warwick Valley Chamber Orchestra received an impressive seven awards, including:

  • 1st Place Gold in their division
  • Outstanding and Highest Ranked Orchestra of the day
  • The Adjudicator Award, given to the overall highest-ranked ensemble of the day
  • The Ovation Award was presented to Zachary Polsky for making the greatest impact on his community and school program. Each director nominated a student from their ensemble who met the award criteria, and Zach was selected from among the 24 nominated students.
  • The Maestro Award, recognizing the top soloists of the festival, was awarded to Warwick’s own Grace Cornelius and Zachary Polsky.
  • The orchestra’s greatest achievement was qualifying for the Gold Invitational Festival, set to take place in Nashville in the spring of 2027.

Mrs. Maynard reflected on the accomplishment, saying, “The students and I work really hard in class and rehearsals, and the awards we received today, along with high praises from all three adjudicators, simply validated every moment of hard work that we have put in. I couldn’t be prouder of the students and the music we made this weekend. I am confident we will be just as successful in Nashville next spring.” The students concluded their evening by celebrating with dinner and dancing on a Circle Line Cruise of NYC on the Hudson.

Community members and music lovers are invited to experience the award-winning Warwick Valley Chamber Orchestra at their upcoming Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 12th, at 7:00 PM in the Warwick Valley High School auditorium.

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A large group of people, mostly young adults, are gathered in a church-like setting, enthusiastically cheering and celebrating with their hands raised.
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A man and a woman are standing in a grand, ornate interior, with the woman holding an award or certificate in her hands.