South High School ninth grader Sophia Wotman has been selected to play the trumpet with the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Division IV Jazz Ensemble, which features ninth and tenth grade students throughout Nassau County.
Wotman is a member of the jazz band and symphonic band at South High School.
Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head and director of instrumental music at South High, congratulated Wotman and emphasized the difficulty of the selection process.
“Selection to the Division IV Jazz Band as an incoming ninth grader is remarkable,” Schwartz said.
Unlike most other All-County performing groups, which determine participants solely upon NYSSMA scores, the All-County Division IV Jazz Ensemble requires both a superior NYSSMA score as well as a separate audition. During the audition process, students perform a solo selection and demonstrate the ability to sight read music provided by an adjudicator.
The All-County Concerts, sponsored by NMEA, feature the county’s finest student musicians who perform together in various ensembles. The Division IV Instrumental Jazz Concert will take place in November at the Hillwood Recital Hall at the Tilles Center.
