On Saturday, November 19th, the Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA), the state organization of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), held auditions for the 2016-17 All-State ensembles, at Moses Brown School in Providence. Four Portsmouth Abbey student-musicians, who had been practicing for months, auditioned along with 1,600 other student-musicians from all over the state. In order to be eligible for All-State honors, students must be in their school's band, choir, jazz ensemble or orchestra.
Each of the four Abbey musicians who auditioned was accepted into the RIMEA All-State band, and more impressively, each placed within the top five or 10 competitors on their respective instruments. The Abbey students who made it to All-State are: John Billings '17 (above, lower left) for Sr. All-State Orchestra, placing fourth in his division; Sarabeth Surber '20 (above, lower right) for Jr. All-State Band, placing fourth in her division; Maya Wilson '17 (above, upper left) for Sr. All-State Treble Chorus, taking sixth place in her division; and Emma Kerr '20 (above, upper right) for Jr. All-State Mixed Chorus, placing ninth in her division.
The mission of the National Association for Music Education, founded in 1915, is to advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all. RIMEA is a non-profit organization that plays a significant role in representing all phases of music education in the schools, colleges, and universities within the state of Rhode Island.
Congratulations to our Abbey All-State student-musicians and to Abbey Director of Music Jeff Kerr!