Long Beach High School is proud to announce that three of its talented student musicians have been selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Ensembles. Siblings Luke Morita and Ronin Morita have been selected for mixed chorus, while Aaron Turbek has been selected for wind ensemble.
This achievement also marks a historic first for Long Beach, as this is the first time siblings have been selected for the same ensemble during the same year. Congratulations to Luke and Ronin Morita on this remarkable milestone.
The All-State process is one of the most competitive opportunities for high school musicians and is open to students in grades 10 and 11. Students prepare a Level 6 solo chosen from the official NYSSMA repertoire list. These solos are adjudicated at solo festivals across the state, and students earning scores of 98–100 are automatically recommended for All-State consideration.
Following adjudication, LBHS music teachers submit applications and recommendations, which are carefully reviewed by the NYSSMA All-State Committee, made up of representatives from 15 regional zones across New York State. From more than 6,500 auditions statewide, only about 600 students, including approximately 350 from Long Island, are ultimately selected for participation in ensembles that include Mixed Chorus, Instrumental Jazz, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra.
These outstanding students will travel to Rochester, NY, in early December for the NYSSMA Winter Conference, where they will rehearse under the direction of world-renowned conductors. This year’s All-State Mixed Chorus will be conducted by Dr. Brandon Boyd (University of Missouri), and the Wind Ensemble will be conducted by Dr. David Vanderwalker (Georgia State University).Their experience will culminate in performances at the historic Eastman Theater.
“We extend our congratulations to our wonderfully talented students and to their past and present music teachers whose guidance, dedication, and passion have been instrumental in their success,” said Julia Lang Shapiro, Director of Media, Visual & Performing Arts. “We are incredibly proud of Luke, Ronin, and Aaron, whose perseverance and artistry represent another record-setting year for the Long Beach High School Music Department.”