Melodies of Christmas Features WHUFSD Senior
Posted on 12/22/2022
A special recognition during the holiday season for one of our students.
Julia Spretty, a senior in the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District, had the honor of performing in this year's Melodies of Christmas concert featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra.
The Empire State Youth Orchestra is comprised of more than 600 students from districts across the Capital Region. Artists, coaches, and conductors from all over the country visit with the students every season to help guide them and challenge them to become better at their craft.
Julia, who plays both clarinet and bass clarinet for the orchestra, has been part of the program for each of the last five years. This is her third year performing with the symphony orchestra, but her first opportunity to perform in the Melodies concert after the concert was put on hiatus the previous two years.
This year marks the 43rd Melodies of Christmas charity concert, with donations benefitting the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Albany Med. Since its inception, the Melodies concert has helped raise nearly $10 million in donations.
You can watch Julia and the rest of the Empire State Youth Orchestra perform on CBS 6 on Christmas Eve (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m. The concert is also airing on Christmas morning (Sunday) at 7:30 a.m.
It has been a busy fall and winter season for Julia. She has also performed in various NYSSMA festivals and concerts, including the all-state ensemble. She was featured in that ensemble as the only student to play the Eb clarinet, and was given a challenging solo to perform. She has welcomed every challenge her teachers and conductors have given her with an open mind and dedication, and it shows in each of her performances.
Congratulations and brava, Julia!