Zone 7

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Presidents of Affiliated Counties

Albany (Capital Suburban Council MEA)
Nancy Lussier
Scotia-Glenville M.S.
10 Prestige Pkwy.
Scotia, NY 12302
nlussier@sgcsd.net
(518) 382-1208

Saratoga-Warren
Alyssa Verheyn
Queensbury UFSD – William H. Barton Intermediate School
425 Aviation Rd. 
Queensbury, NY 12804
averheyn@queensburyschool.org
914-255-1604

Schenectady – SCMA
Chloë Shan
Mohonasen Middle School
2070 Curry Rd. 
Schenectady, NY 12303
cshan@mohonasen.org
(518) 356-8300
 
Washington – WCAMTA
Catherine Pandori
Greenwich Junior-Senior High School
10 Gray Ave
Greenwich, NY 12834
cpandori@greenwichcsd.org
(518) 692-9642 ext 6300

Rensselaer
Hannah Wunsch
Goff Middle School
35 Gilligan Rd
East Greenbush, NY 12061
wunschha@egcsd.org

Fulton
Michael Banewitz
Mayfield CSD
Mayfield, NY 12117
banewicz.michael@mayfieldcsd.org

Montgomery
Nicholas Anker
Canajoharie Central School
136 Scholastic Way
Canajoharie NY 13317
518-673-6330 x3132
nicholas.anker@canjo.org

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Zone 7 Teacher Contact Form

** Zone 7 Communication: Click HERE to add your contact info so you can receive emails. 

As of 9/1/26:  ALL Zone 7 members should fill out this Google Form, even if you submitted your contact information previously and have been receiving emails from Zone7@nyssma.org.  Effective January 1, 2027, the old directory and contact list will be no longer be used.

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Area All-State Info

2026 Area All-State – Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady
November 6-7, 2026
Festival Chair: Michelle McLoughlin
mmcloughlin@rcscsd.org

Application deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026.
Application Information will be shared in September.

Past AAS Programs
Click HERE for a link to past programs (database is being continually updated)

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2027 Solo Festival Dates, Locations and Hosts  

All districts and/or individual teachers in Zone 7 who plan to send students to a NYSSMA Solo/Ensemble Festival must complete the 2027 Intent to Participate Survey by December 6, 2026.

Registration will continue through www.gdoig.com 

SUNY Schenectady School of Music Piano Festival
March 12-13
Host: Mark Evans
evansme@sunysccc.edu
Registration deadline: 1/29

Bethlehem MS, Solo/Ensemble/All-State
April 9-10
Host: Julie Taylor
jtaylor@bethlehemschools.org
Registration Deadline, 2/26

Albany in-house, Solo/Ensemble
April 17 (Saturday only)
Host: Kim Reynolds-Hoffman
kreynolds-hoffman@albany.k12.ny.us
Registration Deadline: 3/5

Mechanicville, Solo/Ensemble/All-State
May 14-15
Host: Taylor Robey
trobey@mechanicville.org
Registration Deadline: 4/2

Farnsworth MS (Guilderland), Solo/Ensemble/All-State/IJ/VJ
June 4-5
Hosts: John Burmeister & Greg Clark
Registration Deadline: 4/23
(Guilderland is the ONLY INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ & VOCAL JAZZ site in Zone 7)

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2027 Major Organization Dates, Locations & Hosts

Registration on nyssma.org in January 2027.
Majors registration closes on March 1, 2027 or when festival schedules are full, whichever comes first.

Columbia HS, Instrumental Majors
April 20-21
Host: Jon Kusche
kuschejo@egcsd.org

Bethlehem HS, Instrumental Majors and Clinic Evaluation*
April 27-28
Host: Chris Jantson
cjantson@bethlehemschools.org

Niskayuna HS, Choral Majors
April 21-22
Host: Christina Pizzino-Catalano
cpizzino-catalano@niskyschools.org

Guilderland HS, Choral Majors and Clinic Evaluation*
April 28-29
Host: Claudia Golub
golubc@guilderlandschools.net

*Clinic Evaluations: Ensembles perform two selections from any source and receive written, recorded and in-person feedback by oriented adjudicators. No rating will be given. Registration, time, and fees are consistent with Major Organization evaluations (see below). Traditional and Non-traditional ensembles are invited to participate. Please reach out for more information if interested!

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Solo & Ensemble Fee Schedule

Solo & Ensemble – Levels 1-4 $20 
Solo & Ensemble – Levels 5-6 $30 
All State – $36
Piano – levels 1-4 $26
Piano – Levels 5-6 $36

Major Organization Fee Schedule 

Festival (rating) fees:
Majors – Level 1-3 (30 min.) $210
Majors – Level 4 (35 min.) $245
Majors – Level 5-6 (45 min.) $315

Clinic Evaluation (non-rating) fees:
Clinic fees are determined by performing ensemble GRADE level. Ensembles that have cross-over enrollment (5-6, 8-9, etc.) may choose the length that best suits their program.
Clinic – Grades 4-5 (30 min.) $210
Clinic – Grades 6-8 (35 min.) $245
Clinic – Grades 9-12 (45 min.) $315

Participation fees for the 2027-2030 festival seasons can be found here.

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