Longwood Receives Prestigious NYSSMA Award of Excellence for Outstanding Music Program

This past weekend, the Longwood Central School District's award-winning music department received the prestigious 2022 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Award of Excellence. The award honors districts for well-rounded music programs that serve as role models for music education programs throughout New York State.  The award is also the highest honor any music program can achieve in New York State.  

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lohman accepted the award at the All-State Conference held in Rochester, NY, along with Dr. John Gallagher, Director of Music and Fine Arts, and the district's music educators.

"We are honored that NYSSMA has recognized us with the Award of Excellence," stated Dr. Gallagher. "This recognition is a direct result of the hard work and dedication our music educators share daily. Our sequential curriculum is rooted in the New York State Learning Standards in the Arts, which allows our students to shine in the classroom, on stage, at festivals within our local communities, and beyond. I want to thank our Longwood Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Lohman, and our community for their years of support for our program."

Each year the Association honors eligible school districts based on a thorough application, with criteria such as music program offerings and curriculum; school policies and practices; student participation in music within the district, as well as extra-curricular music festivals (such as the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation Festival and SCMEA All-County Festival); productive use of technology; and staff qualifications and activities.

"Our awards committee has determined that Longwood is a most deserving recipient of this award for the positive impact of its excellent music program upon the lives of its students and the community Longwood serves," said NYSSMA President Russ Faunce.