Festival and winter conference for NYS School Music Association will return to Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The New York State School Music Association festival and winter conference is returning to Rochester.

The event will welcome 569 students across five music ensembles. It also offers more than 200 professional development sessions for music teachers to help them promote equality and social-emotional learning.

The 2022 All State Festival and Winter Conference will run from December 1-4 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center and the Eastman Theater. You can register for the conference here.

This year’s theme is “Connect, Belong and Create” and it will focus on rebuilding and rejuvenating music programs across the state post-pandemic.

Here’s the list of ensembles that will perform and their conductors:

• All State Vocal Jazz Ensemble – John Stafford II, Kansas City Kansas Community College
• All State Instrumental Jazz Ensemble – Julius Tolentino, Newark Academy
• All State Mixed Chorus – Dr. Derrick Fox, University of Nebraska, Omaha
• All State Symphonic Band – Dr. Thomas McCauley, John Cali School of Music, Montclair State University
• All State Symphony Orchestra – Dr. James Allen Anderson, University of Delaware

The NYS School Music Association is the largest state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. Its mission is to advance music education across New York State for its membership and students in member school programs.