On November 18 and 19, Putnam Valley High School students (shown below with their families) represented Putnam Valley at the 2011 NYSSMA Zone 10 Area-All State Music Festival. This year's festival, held at Arlington HS, brought together some of the finest high school musicians from Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia Counties. During this weekend long event, these students had the opportunity to meet and perform with other outstanding musicians from area high schools in addition to performing under the conducting baton of college-level musical directors. Sam Faber Manning, Daniel Rodriguez, and Chris Brunke were selected for the event based on their 2011 NYSSMA assessment scores in combination with a teacher recommendation.

PVHS Band Director, Ryan Odell said the following: "These student are outstanding musicians who through hard work, diligent practice and long hours balancing their many interests, had this wonderful opportunity to represent themselves and our school in such a positive way. It stands out as a great example of the great things that can happen when schools and families partner together to bring out the potential in our kids. I am very proud of them all."

For more information about NYSSMA please visit http://www.nyssma.org