Follow THIS LINK for a full list of upcoming concerts in the district.
Annual Guilderland Music Department Events
Seasonal Concerts
Pops Concert
“Pops ” is an annual event to help support Guilderland’s K-12 Music Program. The event features performances by all of the major high school music groups, as well as some middle school ensembles, and includes more than 350 talented students. This is a ticketed event, and funds raised help the Guilderland Music Parents & Friends Association. This annual concert is held on the first Saturday in February.
This event is the major fundraiser for the music booster organization, the Guilderland Music Parents and Friends Association. The GMPFA, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), uses all funds raised from the Pops Concert to provide scholarships, enrichment activities, assembly programs, guest clinicians, and other resources for students of every age throughout the Guilderland school district.
Young People’s Concert
5th Grade Instrumental Night
Concerto Competition
Each year the Guilderland High School music department holds a performance competition open to Juniors and Seniors. Students are expected to audition on a solo piece and provide an accompaniment for the audition. The winner is chosen by all members of the GHS music faculty, and the talented musician selected gains the privilege of a spring solo performance with one of the large ensembles. The director of the ensemble will choose a final performance piece that is suitable for the ensemble.
May Festival
The Guilderland Music Department, with support from the Guilderland Music Parents and Friends, hosts an annual music festival in May. This large event rotates between orchestral, band and choral ensembles, and includes students from elementary ages through the high school. Musical luminaries who have been in residency with Guilderland musicians include: Maestro Claudio Fei, Nick Page, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Dr. David Griggs-Janower, David Alan Miller, Charles Peltz, Tony Maiello, Dr. Beth Petersen, Dr. Glen Adsit.
Festivals/ Honors Festivals
NYSSMA® (New York State School Music Association) is the largest, most successful NAfME (National Association for Music Education) state unit in the country, and is the most significant professional force in music education in the State of New York. NYSSMA’s mission is to advance music education across New York State for its membership and students in member school programs.
https://sites.google.com/guilderlandschools.net/guilderland-csd-music-depart/nyssma
NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festival
Piano Evaluation Festival
NYSSMA Major Organizations Festival “Majors”
All State
Each year thousands of student musicians across New York State compete for an opportunity to be selected for the prestigious NYSSMA Conference All State Music Ensembles. Admission to these highly selective groups is based upon the score received the previous spring during the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation Festival. Click here to go to the NYSSMA Web site to learn more about the All-State process.
Area All State
These outstanding ensembles consist of students chosen from a nine county area including Albany, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties. Competitive selection to these groups is based upon the score received by the students during the previous spring at the NYSSMA solo evaluation festival.
Suburban Council Music Festival
Participants for this annual music festival are selected from the sixteen Suburban Scholastic Council school districts. The performing groups rotate every year so that MS and HS band, chorus, jazz band, and orchestra perform every other year. Good luck to all the students auditioning for these ensembles!
