Music News

In preparation of the possible two hour delay and needing to give the bus company enough time, we have adjusted the arrival and departure time. Please see below:

If you have any questions, please email me at bretersdorf@bscsd.org

 

Friday March 6, Morning Timeline UPDATED

8:45am Arrive at Ballston Spa High School, 220 Ballston Ave, Ballston Spa, NY

9:00am Depart from Ballston Spa High School

10:45am Drop off MS Honor Band Students at Embassy Suites for registration, 6646 Old Collamer Rd S, East Syracuse, NY 13057

11:00am Drop off HS Honor Band Students at DoubleTree Hotel for registration, 6301 NY-298, East Syracuse, NY 1305
 

Parking at Ballston Spa High School

You may enter either the inner loop by the digital sign or the main bus loop at the Middle School entrance. You may temporarily park in the main loop when dropping off your child.

 

 

 

Our annual POPS Concert will take place on Saturday, February 28th at 7:00pm and is just the beginning of celebrating Music in our Schools Month which begins March 1st. The POPS Concert features all of our grades 9-12 performing groups. This is in celebration of our students and all of their musical accomplishments throughout the year.

Musical Performances will take place in the High School Auditorium, Cafeteria and Gymnasium. Tickets are $3.00 each and can be purchased at the door or online. All proceeds go towards music senior scholarships/awards. Please come out and celebrate our amazing and talented music students at this awesome event and support their future endeavors.

Skip the line, purchase online! 

 

Senior Peter Hinckley was selected for the Conference All-State Mixed Choir, one of the highest level ensembles in the state. This comes after years of hard work and performing an All-State solo at the NYSSMA solo festival where he earned a perfect score of 100. Peter will perform with students from across New York State at the NYSSMA Winter Conference. Congratulations Peter!

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.