MONTICELLO, NY — The Monticello Central School District extends a “huge congratulations” to the five Monticello High School (MHS) student musicians selected to participate in the 2025 Zone 9 Area All-State Music Festival. 

Students were accepted to these distinguished performing ensembles based on their New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival performances last spring.

This year’s MHS Area All-State student musicians are: 

Kenny Walz and Emiliano Lima—String Orchestra 

Emily Pine—Treble Chorus 

Jovi Roosa and Kiamesha Camacho-Torres—Concert Band 

The festival includes top music students from Sullivan, Orange, Ulster, Rockland and Greene counties, and will be held this year at Cornwall High School on November 21 and 22.

The Monticello High School Performing Arts Department announced that bassist Kenny Walz was selected to participate in the NYSSMA All-State String Orchestra, which takes place during the annual winter conference in Rochester this December.

This honor was due in part to his performance at last year’s NYSSMA Solo Festival, where Walz achieved a perfect score of 100 on his bass concerto audition. Thousands of music students across New York State audition for these ensembles, and it is a true honor to be selected, the district said. 

“We are immensely proud of Kenny’s accomplishments and cannot wait to watch him perform in this elite NY State ensemble,” a school district press release read. “Congratulations to these students on their continued musical achievements!”