Albany High musicians named "Best Student Orchestra"

  • Posted May 6, 2024
Members of the pit orchestra pose in three rows on the school stage

Encore! The pit orchestra for Albany High School’s spring play won “Best Student Orchestra” on Saturday at the 2024 High School Music Theatre Awards. 

The event takes place each year at Proctors Theatre and recognizes outstanding local high school musical theater productions and students in a ceremony that is analogous to the Tony Awards.

Under the direction of teacher John Halvorsen, Albany High’s pit orchestra performed all the instrumental music for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” presented by the Theater Ensemble in March.

Members of the pit orchestra include:  

  • Tessa Weklar, junior, flute/oboe
  • Juliana Blake, senior, flute
  • Renee Geraghty, junior, flute
  • Jonah Bouget, sophomore, flute
  • Cameron Volk, sophomore, flute
  • Margaret MacCallum, junior, flute
  • Gideon Rosenthal, sophomore, violin
  • Macaylah Irving, senior, viola
  • Emmett MacCallum, freshman, cello
  • Sonja De Piro, junior, cello
  • Rowan Hoehn, junior, clarinet
  • Andrew Eck, senior, trumpet
  • Sidney Blanken, freshman, trumpet
  • Caleb Goldstein, sophomore, trumpet
  • Andrew Fish, freshman, trumpet
  • Nora Gordon, junior, alto saxophone
  • Danica Fish, senior, alto saxophone
  • Trent Minarich, senior, electric bass
  • Kailas Bouget, sophomore, synthesizer
  • Andre Speller, senior, tuba
  • Julio Davis, senior, tuba
  • Masami Surisawa, senior, trombone
  • Anna Baldes, junior, trombone
  • Freddy Lizardo, sophomore, trombone
  • Isabelle Scandurra, junior, percussion
  • Angeline Thompson, junior, percussion
  • Nevaeh Pryall-Best, senior, percussion

Congratulations to all, and bravo!