WESTMORELAND, N.Y.- Congratulations to Westmoreland Senior, Ashlynn Clanton, who was one of the less than 100 students selected out of hundreds across the state to perform in the New York State All-State Mixed Chorus.
She was chosen out of approximately 600 students to sing in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference this December in Rochester and then the Auditorium of Eastman School of Music, a very prestigious school, located at the University of Rochester.
Clanton was chosen based on her NYSSMA solo performance in the spring of 2024. The All-State selection process begins with a solo evaluation by a NYSSMA adjudicator. Based on the evaluation, they create a list of students who received a rating of 98-100 (based on instrument or voice) and put them on a recommendation list. Then a committee made up of NYSSMA members sorts through the lists and they review the following criteria: member school music teacher recommendations, adjudicator recommendations, the candidate’s previous NYSSMA solo ratings, grade in school, participation in the previous year’s All-State, zone representation and participation in other performing organizations. From this criteria, they create a “master proficiency list” and successful candidates are assigned to one of eight All-State performing ensembles, with some being alternates. In late August, those students are notified by mail, which is when preparations for the winter performance begin!
Clanton is the third student in Westmoreland history to be chosen! She is very active in our school districts drama club, band, choir and Broadway Voices! We are extremely proud of her accomplishments!