New York State School Music Association

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide the highest quality musical experiences for high school and middle school students throughout the county. Our goal is to promote, encourage, and nurture students involved in all school music programs of Essex County as well as foster and improve the appreciation and performance of live concert music.

Dear Friends, Colleagues, Administrators, Parents and Students,

Recently the Essex County School Music Association (ECSMA) met to discuss how we will proceed with our All County Festivals for the 2020-2021 school year. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of in person education already lost and the uncertainties regarding school in the fall, we have come to the collective decision to cancel the Middle School All County Festival scheduled for the fall of 2020. At this time, our High School All County Festival is scheduled for February 11th 2021 at Saranac Lake High School.

The decision to cancel was not one made lightly, but one agreed upon given information and data currently available all while keeping the safety of our students and educational community in mind.

We will continue to look to our educational leaders, our state organization, NYSSMA and our local administrators for facts, data and guidelines on how to eventually move forward. Please know that our associations' thoughts are with our students and we are eager to make music with them once again.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Iturrino

Essex County School Music Association President

Participating Districts:

AuSable Valley Central School
Boquet Valley Central School
Crown Point Central School
Keene Central School
Moriah Central School
Lake Placid Central School
Saranac Lake Central School
Ticonderoga Central School
Tupper Lake Central School
Willsboro Central School

County Officers:

Mike Iturrino – President
Keith Kogut -Treasurer
Drew Benware -Secretary
Matthew Pray – Webmaster