Deer Park High School is thrilled to announce the outstanding success of music ensembles at this year’s New York State School Music Association Majors. Marking a triumphant return to the competition after an extended hiatus, the school’s participation has been met with resounding success, validating the immense talent of its students and the high standards of the music faculty.

The achievements of Deer Park’s ensembles are truly remarkable, reflecting the dedication and artistic growth fostered within the high school’s classrooms. The select chorus earned an impressive Level 5 Gold with Distinction rating, while the wind ensemble similarly secured Level 5 Gold with Distinction honors. The chamber orchestra performed at a stellar level, receiving a Level 4 Gold with Distinction rating, and the symphonic band/band 9 achieved a Level 3 Gold rating. These results serve as a powerful testament to the tireless work ethic of Deer Park’s music students, who rose to the challenge of returning to the NYSSMA stage with passion and precision.  

This success is a direct reflection of the exceptional leadership provided by the school’s dedicated music educators – with Director of Fine and Performing Arts Bradley Murphy singling out Derek Schmelter for his commitment to the band program, Catherine Singer for her work in elevating the select chorus and Julia Ingemi for her guidance of the chamber orchestra – whose dedication to fostering musical excellence is the backbone of these programs.  

“The Deer Park community could not be happier with the results of this year’s NYSSMA Majors competition,” Murphy said. “This validation marks a new chapter for our fine and performing arts department, and the district is already looking forward to expanding the number of participating ensembles in the coming years. By providing our students with the opportunity to perform and be evaluated on a state stage, we continue to reinforce Deer Park’s commitment to excellence in arts education.”