Ken-Ton Musicians Chosen for Highly Selective Ensembles
The Ken-Ton School District is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of its student musicians who were selected to perform in the Erie County Music Ensembles and the New York State Band Directors Association Honor Ensembles this past March.
Selection to these prestigious ensembles is highly competitive, requiring students to demonstrate exceptional musical skill through rigorous auditions among the most talented young musicians in the region and across New York State.
These students dedicated countless hours to preparing challenging repertoire and performed alongside other top musicians under the direction of distinguished guest conductors. Their participation reflects not only their individual commitment and talent, but also the strength of the Ken-Ton music program.
“We are incredibly proud of our students for earning this honor,” said Laura Anderson, District Music Coordinator. “Their hard work, perseverance, and passion for music are truly commendable. This recognition is also a testament to the dedication of our music educators across the district.”
The following students represented Ken-Ton with distinction:
Conference All State
- Sydney McHugh (KE) - Mix Chorus
- Ghana Mohammed (KE) - Symphony Orchestra - violin
- Josephine Strumer (KW) Treble Choir
- Copeland Baker (KW) Jazz Ensemble Trombone
- Quinn Lew (KW) Concert Band Alto Saxophone
- Alistair Gianni (KW) Modern Band Tenor/Bari Sax
- Karissa Curry (KE) - Clarinet Middle School Honor Concert Band
- Elizabeth Starkweather (KE) - Bassoon High School Concert Band
- Khloe Kibby (KW) - French Horn Middle School Honor Concert Band
Senior High Area All State:
- Naomi Hollie (KW) Chorus
- Zoe Lesika (KW) Chorus
- Zachary Collins (KW) Chorus
- Joe Riggie (KW) Viola - String Orchestra
- Addison Rejewski (KE) Chorus
- Elizabeth Starkweather (KE) Bassoon - Band
- Alistair Gianni (KW) Baritone Saxophone Jazz Ensemble
- Cooper Potts (KW) Drum Set - Jazz Ensemble
- Evey Sciandra (KW) String Orchestra
- Quinn Lew (KW) Alto Saxophone - Jazz Ensemble
- Maranda Ackendorf (KW) Piccolo - Symphony Orchestra
- Brian Dehima (KW) Clarinet - Band
- Torin Reed (KW) - Trombone - Jazz Ensemble
- Copeland Baker (KW) Trombone - Jazz Ensemble
- Ghana Mohammed (KE) Violin - String Orchestra
- Michael Flynn (KE) Chorus
- Ella Roberts (KW) Chorus
- Heather Malkiewicz (KW) Chorus
- Aiden Price (KW) Chorus
- Madelyn Atherton (KE) Chorus
- Sydney McHugh (KE) Chorus
- Liam Doyle (KE) Chorus
- Andrew Niewczyk Santoro (KE) Double Bass - Symphony Orchestra
- Ava McCombs (KE) Viola - String Orchestra
- Cora Walker (KE) String Bass - Vocal Jazz
Junior High Area All State:
- Katelyn Bender (KW) Chorus
- Megan Kiel (KW) Chorus
- Zoey Sanders (KW) Chorus
- Luke Backlund (KE) Chorus
- Amelia Borgisi (KE) Chorus
- Abigail Carmichael (KE) Chorus
- Karissa Curry (KE) Clarinet - Concert Band
- Sarah Ayadh (KE) Alto Saxophone - Concert Band
- Khloe Kibby (KW) French Horn - Concert Band
- Leo Kessler (KE) Trumpet - Jazz Ensemble
- Declan Hayward (KW) Trumpet - Jazz Ensemble
- Angelina Welgoss (KW) Double Bass - String Orchestra
- Bailey Fordham (FMS) - Viola - String Orchestra
- Evelyn Zwack (FMS) Viola - String Orchestra
- Ava Viola (KE) - Bb Clarinet - Symphonic Orchestra
- Saw Tort (FMS) Viola - Symphonic Orchestra
- Nate Miller (KW) Double Bass - Symphonic Orchestra
- Jamison Lenz (KW) Violin - Symphonic Orchestra
- Jack O'Donnell (KW) Violin - Symphonic Orchestra
New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA):
- Karissa Curry (KE) - Clarinet, Middle School Honor Concert Band
- Elizabeth Starkweather (KE) - Bassoon, High School Concert Band
- Khloe Kibby (KW) - French Horn, Middle School Honor Concert Band
Erie County Music Ensembles (ECMEA):
Erie County Elementary Chorus
- Franklin Middle School: Alessandra Fournier, Avery Fronczak, Molly Glick, Maximus Gerik, Theodore Kouzan, Arlo Mitch, Genevieve Mullen, Penelope Muroff, Kendall Nickell, Linkyn Robbins, Avery Starkey, Sawyer Todaro, Remy Vincent, Harper Wieand
Erie County Junior High Orchestra
- Franklin Middle School: Evelynn Wich - Violin, Alternate: Bailey Fordham - Viola and Cassidy Kramer - Double Bass
- Kenmore East: Ahkeya Mirasol - Violin
- Kenmore West: Jamison Lenz - Violin Concert Master, Nate Miller - Double Bass - Principal Bass and Angelina Welgoss - Double Bass
Erie County Junior High Band
- Hoover Middle School: Genevieve Barnes - Clarinet,
- Kenmore West: August Kaufmann - Trumpet Selected: Khloe Kibby- French Horn, Karissa Curry - Clarinet and Kaitlyn Forpahl - Clarinet
- Kenmore East: Sarah Ayadh - Alto Saxophone, Lauren Leistner - Flute, Ava Viola - Clarinet, Freya Wilson - Alto Saxophone, Alternate Samantha O'Connor - French Horn
Erie County Junior High Chorus
- Franklin Middle School: Emma Cohen, Nora DiVirgilio, Gavin Dusher, Hidy Gleason, Sophie Higgins, Mackenzie Kinda, Athena Muroff, Lilyana Santerre, Myra Vincent
- Hoover Middle School: Luke Brunn, Anika DeMart, Avery Farnum, Olivia Gibbs, Mae Machemer, Mykel McDuffie, Mila Mogavero, Mackenzie Murphy, Jameson Psaradelis, Elizabeth Riggie, Keira Rountree, Arya Wekenmann, Heidi Wyant’
- Kenmore West: Katelyn Bender, Jaina DeValentino, Maxine Gavigan, Norah Goodsell, Megan Kiel, Fiona Klein, Lyra Luchkiw, Zoey Sanders, Mason Williams, Liam Hennessy
- Kenmore East: Luke Backlund, Amelia Borgisi, Abby Carmichael, Avery Clark, Holly Doepp, Kae Matthews, Skylar Reimer, Caydence Saffron, Samantha Starkweather, Channing Todaro, Sydney Torchia, Roman Torrellas, Hailie Vetter-Higgins, Makayla Wright, Quinn Yerger
Erie County Senior High Chorus
- Kenmore East: Michael Flynn, Sofia Gaglia, Michael Hunter, Sydney McHugh, Heaven-Leigh Motten, Addison Netter, Addison Rejewski, Morgan Tobin, Tyler Vitko
- Kenmore West: Quinn Blair-Heim, Naomi Hollie, Zoe Lesika, Heather Malkiewicz, Aidan Pryce, Torin Reed, Ella Roberts, Lily Ruot
Erie County Senior High Band:
- Kenmore West: Copeland Baker - Trombone, Alistair Gianni - Baritone Sax, Quinn Lew Alto Sax, Adrianna Milazzo - Trombone
Erie County Senior High Orchestra:
- Kenmore East: Ghana Mohammed - Viola - Principal Viola, Elizabeth Starkweather - Bassoon
- Kenmore West: Evey Sciandra - Violin - Principal 2nd Violin
Junior High Erie County Jazz Band:
- Kenmore West: Declan Hayward - Trumpet, Jamison Lenz - piano, Alternate: Angelina Welgoss - Bass
- Kenmore East: Alternate: Sarah Ayadh - Alto Saxophone, Karissa Curry - piano
Erie County Vocal Jazz:
- Kenmore West: Cooper Potts - Drum Set
- Kenmore East: Michael Flynn, Sydney McHugh, Ghana Mohammed, Morgan Tobin
- (Alternate): Liam Doyle, Heaven-Leigh Motten
Erie County Senior High Jazz Band:
- Kenmore West: Maranda Ackendorf - Guitar, Copeland Baker - Trombone, Stella Dettbarn - Bass, Alistair Gianni - Bari Saxophone, Quinn Lew - Alto Saxophone, Torin Reed Trombone. Alternate: Jacob Zimmerman - Trumpet
- Kenmore East (Alternate): Tyler Vitko - Bari Saxophone