Inlet Musicians: Front row: Joseph Townsend, Britney Levi, Back Row: Alexander Sutherland and Natalie Brownsell with Principal Chris Holt. Photo by Wende Carr
For the first time ever, Inlet Common School instrumental students will perform at a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival, which will be held at the Watertown High School on Saturday, April 27.
Music Teacher Caitlyn Goodwin, Principal Chris Holt and the school board collaborated to get the Inlet school registered as a NYSSMA member this year.
Four Inlet students will participate in this festival on Saturday—Joseph Townsend on snare drums, Britney Levi on flute, Alexander Sutherland on alto saxophone and Natalie Brownsell on French horn.
The students will each play three scales for the judges, as well as a challenging piece which he/she has been working on for the festival.
“This was Caitlyn Goodwin’s brain child,” Holt said. “She wanted to give the kids extra incentive to practice and play.”
“I can play harder notes than I’m used to, because I’m practicing especially for NYSSMA,” said flutist Britney Levi.
Holt expressed gratitude that the Town of Webb UFSD is allowing Inlet students to ride the bus and interact with Webb students on the trip to Watertown.
Retired instrumental music teacher Tim Downy started a consistent instrumental program at Inlet school years ago, according to Holt. He did this so that students, when they moved to the Webb school in grade seven, would be prepared to play in the band if they were interested. Currently 25 percent of Inlet students take instrumental lessons with Goodwin.
