It’s been a banner year for Alachua County Public School musicians, both individually and collectively.

Twenty-one local middle and high school students have been selected to all-state bands and orchestras by the Florida Bandmasters Association. As a result, the young musicians are headed to Tampa in early January to rehearse and perform at the Tampa Convention Center. The performance is set for January 10.

“Students have to audition to be selected to the all-state ensembles, and usually just three to five students are selected for each instrument,” said Lori Pirzer, the secondary music district liaison. “If a student makes it, that means his or her audition was one of the best in the state.”

Alex Kaminsky, the band director for Buchholz High School, has ten students who were named to the all-state concert band, symphonic band and orchestra. Only one other traditional public high school in Florida, Winter Park High School in Orlando, has more all-state students. Kaminsky says his students worked very hard to earn the prestigious status, both in and out of school.

“These are students who are truly committed to their music studies,” said Kaminsky. “They take every opportunity to expand their skills and their musicianship.”

The school district was also well represented at the recent Florida Marching Band Association Championships in Tampa.  Gainesville high School took the championship in Division 3A, while Santa Fe High finished 4th in Division 2A and Buchholz took 4th in Division 5A.  All three bands will be recognized at tonight's school board meeting.

GHS’ last state championship came in 2001. Until this year’s win, the Purple Hurricanes had come in second in their division two of the last three years, missing the top spot by just fractions of a point.

“Being able to get over that hump and have all the hard work pay off was really gratifying, especially for our seniors,” said GHS band director Bill Pirzer.

Two of the Alachua County students to be selected to the all-state groups were also named winners of the Florida Band Masters Bob Quatman Award, which goes to just one student statewide in each of the five divisions. The award includes a $400 music scholarship, and students are selected based on their musical accomplishments and their future plans in music.

Ryan KirkConnell of Gainesville High School is the Division 3A winner of the Quatman Award and was selected to the all-state symphonic band for the tuba. Scott Graham of Buchholz High School is the Division 5A Quatman Award winner and was selected to the all-state orchestra for trumpet.

The all-state students are: Middle School Honor Band Grades 7 and 8: Patrick Crawford (Oak View) and Levi Riley (High Springs); Middle School Band: Alexander Ishov (Lincoln), Joshua Brownstein (Howard Bishop), Katie Karis and Grace Lee (Kanapaha), Alexander Sinnot (Fort Clarke); Concert Band: Jae-won Jang and Gabe Linn (Eastside), Caleb Hsu, Jeremy Liu, Logan Rutledge, and Laura Jamison (Buchholz); Symphonic Band: Youjin Jang and Ryan Sullivan (Buchholz), Ryan KirkConnell (GHS); Orchestra: Syndney Hawkins, Scott Graham, Tammy Vaughn and Emily Shroads (Buchholz), Joseph Burleson (GHS).