The Rocky Point School District is proud to announce that 16 Rocky Point High School students were selected to participate in the Suffolk County chapter of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME) and the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA) High School All-County Festival. 
Selection to a NYSCAME/SCMEA All-County ensemble is one of the highest honors available to Suffolk County student musicians in grades 11 and 12. Students earn their positions by receiving top ratings at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Evaluation Festival. Those selected then attend three intensive rehearsals at Connetquot High School and Hauppauge High School before performing in a culminating concert, held this year on Nov. 15 at Hauppauge High School. 
The following students represented Rocky Point High School and the Rocky Point Music Department: 
Yuuki Donnelly, violin (grade 12) 
Ava Jimenez, oboe (grade 12) 
Jeremy Moriarty, French horn (grade 11) 
John Nadeau, tuba (grade 11) 
Nathan Watkis, trombone (grade 11) 
Ashley Bernier, alto 1 (grade 11) 
Olivia Carley, soprano 2 (grade 12) 
Lucas Gago, tenor 2 (grade 11) 
Jack Grable, tenor 2 (grade 12) 
Allison Keane, alto 2 (grade 11) 
Matthew Kelsey, bass 1 (grade 12) 
John Nadeau, bass 1 (grade 11) 
Samantha Normandin, alto 1 (grade 12) 
Grayson Steigerwald, alto 1 (grade 11) 
Bella Veraldi, soprano 2 (grade 11) 
Serena Carley, soprano 1 (grade 12) 
Melody Guzman, alto 2 (grade 11) 
All-County students begin preparing their 30–45 minutes of repertoire in September and rehearse with support from Rocky Point music teachers Nicholas Butcher, Jessica Spitz and Amy Schecher. 
Rocky Point Music Department chairpersons Craig Knapp and Amy Schecher praised the students for their commitment and excellence. 
“We are very proud of these students,” they said in a joint statement. “They worked extremely hard on their NYSSMA solos last spring and were diligent in preparing the challenging music for this fall’s All-County Festival. Their dedication to the performing arts and their resulting success are truly commendable. Acceptance into this festival is one of the highest honors a student musician in Suffolk County can achieve.  
They also recognized the contributions of high school choral director Jessica Spitz, who prepared multiple students for All-County ensembles and served as a SCMEA chairperson for both the All-County Treble Choir and All-County Mixed Chorus. 
“Involvement in a professional organization like SCMEA provides meaningful opportunities to represent the district and support musical experiences for students throughout Suffolk County,” the statement continued. “Working alongside world-class choral directors is exceptional professional development, and we are grateful to have Ms. Spitz as part of our department.