Music News

The Ballston Spa High School Music Department is now offering a music ensemble pathway to graduation! Starting in 10th grade, students who participate in their performing ensemble for three consecutive years and complete the mandatory IAAP elements can earn their +1 credit for a Regents or Regents with Advanced Designation Diploma. Learn more about this opportunity on our Academic Offerings page.

The Ballston Spa Music Department recognized 68 seniors who performed in their final spring concert at Ballston Spa High School this evening. Most of these students have been in the program for nine years starting in fourth grade. Music Department ITL Brian Retersdorf had this to say during the concert: "To watch and help foster the growth over the years is one of the best parts of the job. Beginning with Hot Cross Buns or unison/two-part pieces to now performing level V and VI pieces like Arabesque and singing four- and five-part harmonies (Aurora Borealis), what these students and teachers have accomplished is absolutely remarkable. We are excited for our seniors as they continue on to the next leg of their journey and hope that they take their musical and life skills with them wherever they go." Among the 68 students were the Class of 2024 Valedictorian Brooke Cearley (band) and Salutatorian Julia McKinley (choir). Thank you to all of our seniors and their families for the support over the years and best wishes!

The Ballston Spa CSD Board of Education recognized 152 music students grades 4-12 at their March 6th meeting. Students that were honored had participated in the following honor ensembles:

All-County Band
All-County Choir
All-County Orchestra
Hartwick College Honor Band
Suburban Council Music Festival
Zone 7 Area All-State
NYSBDA

Officers of the Ballston Spa High School chapter of Tri-M, the national music honor society, were honored as well as students in grades 4-6 who participated in the First Friday Holiday Parade and earned the award: Best Walkers.

To celebrate Music In Our Schools Month, the music department will host their annual HS POPS Concert on Saturday March 9, 7PM at the High School with all of the proceeds going towards their senior music scholarships and awards. They will also be performing their first ever Elementary Tour with the HS Festival Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band. Students from the department will also be performing in Troupe's production of Beauty and the Beast March 21-24. 

There have been several concert date changes:

Middle School and High School

NEW - Thursday December 9th 7:30PM - Special Band Concert featuring the 7th Grade Band, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.

Monday December 13 7:30PM is still the JV Concert with Concert Jazz, Concert Choir and Concert Orchestra

Tuesday December 14 7:00PM is still the 7th Grade Choir and Orchestra

Thursday December 16 7:30PM is still the Varsity Concert with High School Jazz, Festival Choir and Symphonic Orchestra.

All Elementary Schools

All of our elementary winter concerts have been moved to March and up to the High School Auditorium

Tuesday March 1, 7:00PM - Milton Terrace
Thursday March 3, 7:00PM - Gordon Creek
Tuesday March 8, 7:00PM - Wood Road
Thursday March 10. 7:00PM - Malta Avenue 

As a reminder, anyone enter a school building must wear a mask at all times including after school and evening events.

For a complete list of concert dates, please visit our Performance Schedule.

The Ballston Spa CSD Music Department will host the NYS School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Solo and Small Ensemble Music Festival on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the Ballston Spa High School and Middle School. Over 1,000 students from across the NYSSMA Zone 7 will perform a solo or small ensemble selection out of the NYSSMA manual, sight read, and perform scales for a graded evaluation. These evaluations help students earn acceptance into various honor performing ensembles including All-County, Area All-State, and All-State. The festival will run from 4:00pm-9:00pm on Friday and 8:00am-4:00pm on Saturday.

Senior trumpet player Andrew Wade and senior euphonium player Andrew Paster performed with the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) Honor Band at the NYSBDA Symposium held March 4-6, 2022 in Syracuse. The three-day event was filled with rehearsals, workshops, and finished with a concert to end the Symposium. Directors and students come from all over New York to attend the event. Students must submit applications and their NYSSMA solo scores to try and earn an invitation into this top level ensemble. Both students started playing their instruments in fourth grade and have continued with it through senior year as they faced full course loads, participated in different clubs and sports such as Troupe, cross country and outdoor track. Thank you to Andrew and Andrew for representing Ballston Spa and for all of your hard work and dedication. 

On Saturday night the high school jazz bands, orchestras, choirs and bands performed for a packed house at the annual Pops Concert. With only an hour and a half to set up, the school was transformed into a three-stage performance venue with concessions and handmade posters recognizing all of the seniors in the music department. The event started with the 9-12 combined jazz bands in the cafeteria, moved to the gym for the 9-12 orchestras, followed by a trip to the auditorium for the 9-12 choirs and then back to the gym for the 9-12 bands. Throughout the evening you could hear selections from Bruno Mars, Beauty and the Beast, California Dreamin’, The Doors and more. 

With more than 550 tickets sold, the event raised over $2,300 for our senior scholarships. Alumni of the Ballston Spa music program could be found in the audience, watching their siblings, children and even grandchildren perform songs that they recognized and some even played “back in the day.” 

We would like to thank everyone for supporting the event including Superintendent Ken Slentz and Board of Education President Jason Fernau. 

If you would like to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, please send a check payable to: BSCSD
The check memo or attached letter should reference: Music Dept. Scholarships #SCH102

Checks should be mailed to: 
Ballston Spa CSD
Attn: Deb Carminati
220 Ballston Avenue
Ballston Spa, NY 12020  

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Bspamusic for student recognition, department news, and more. 

112 music students were recognized by the Board of Education on March 1st for their outstanding achievement in being accepted into 17 different honor ensembles for the 2022-2023 school year. The Board also recognized our eight Tri-M Music Honor Society officers who were elected by their peers.