DURHAM – Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps and Principal Rebecca Noe proudly share that 14 Oyster River High School (ORHS) students were selected to perform at the New Hampshire Music Educators Association (NHMEA) All-State Festival in April. 

ORHS students prepared advanced music, scales and excerpts to perform for a panel of NHMEA judges on Nov. 23. Students competed against music students from across the state to be selected to perform at the NHMEA All-State Festival. 

Fourteen ORHS students were chosen: 

• Elizabeth Bessette (Mixed Chorus)
• Devin More (Mixed Chorus)
• Gwendelyn Ickes (Treble Chorus)
• Maren O'Keefe (Treble Chorus)
• Steffi Chen (Band)
• Lydia Jeong (Band)
• Geneva Ruml (Band)
• Ethan Boysen (Orchestra)
• Georgia Leone (Orchestra)
• Margaret O'Shea (Orchestra)
• Lanie Pavlik (Orchestra)
• Vivien Stuart (Orchestra)
• Joshua Tomlinson (Orchestra)
• Isaac Williams (Orchestra)

Ruml was the top-scoring alto saxophonist out of everyone who auditioned in the state. 

"I would like to congratulate our remarkable students on this accomplishment," said Principal Noe. "They have put in the hours and hard work to prepare advanced music and excerpts for their auditions. We are pleased and excited to have them represent Oyster River High School at the All-State Festival in April."

All 14 students will now attend and perform in the All-State Festival, which will take place from April 3-5, 2025, at Concord High School and the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. 

"We are proud of our talented students who were selected to perform at the NHMEA All-State Festival in April,” said Superintendent Dr. Shaps. "This accomplishment highlights the remarkable talent of our next generation of musicians and the strength of Oyster River’s music program. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our exceptional teachers and the robust musical foundation they provide for our students."