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Ballston Spa honors music students, staff during Music in Our Schools Month
Summary
At its March 5 meeting the Ballston Spa Central School District recognized dozens of music students and staff, highlighted upcoming concerts and announced a new pathway to earn a Regents credit in music under a New York State pilot program.
The Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education on March 5 held a districtwide recognition of its music program, honoring students, teachers and community supporters as part of Music in Our Schools Month.
Music director Brian Rettersdorf opened the recognition segment and described upcoming concerts and student achievements, saying, “This Saturday, March 8, is our Pops concert. We give out 43 senior music awards and the only way we can fund those is through the Pops concert.” Rettersdorf described the Pops concert as the only ticketed show and said it combines multiple ensembles, from concert band to jazz bands.
Rettersdorf told the board the district will present nearly 143 ensemble performances and about 54 days of music events across the school year. He also announced that New York State Education has created a pathway (referred to in his remarks as “IAP”) that allows students to earn a Regents credit in music by completing three years of band, choir or orchestra beginning in 10th grade and submitting a portfolio. “Now if you do band, choir, orchestra for 3 years starting in tenth grade and complete the portfolio, you can now get a Regents credit in music,” he said.
The board and the music staff recognized individual students and ensembles. Rettersdorf noted 85 student recognitions this year across 19 honor ensembles, with 23 students earning two or more honors and 119 total designations. He called attention to the high school’s 33-member student pit orchestra and named music teacher Mrs. Seymour, who was recognized as a 2025 Grammy Music Educator Award quarterfinalist: “She was recommended, had to be nominated by somebody in the district or community…we wanted to congratulate Mrs Seymour on such an incredible honor.”
Board members and attendees applauded student award recipients and teacher honorees during the presentation. The recognition segment included calls for community attendance at upcoming performances, including the spring musical and the Pops concert that supports senior music awards.
The meeting then resumed regular business after the recognition period.
