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Oyster Bay-East Norwich

Empowering All Students to Achieve Excellence

September 24, 2026

Four Oyster Bay High School musicians earn NYSSMA All-State honors in historic 20-year milestone

Four Oyster Bay High School musicians

Four Oyster Bay High School student-musicians have earned selection to the 2026 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State ensembles, marking the school’s highest number of All-State selections in a single year since 2006.

The four students are Aari Gupta, selected for Symphonic Band on Trombone I; Abigail Rudnet, selected for Treble Chorus as Soprano 2; Maalika Mehta, selected for Symphonic Band on French Horn 4; and Samuel Brenner, selected for Wind Ensemble on Trombone 2.

NYSSMA All-State selection is one of the highest honors available to New York high school musicians. Each spring, thousands of sophomores and juniors from public and private schools across the state audition through rigorous Level VI solo evaluations. Students are evaluated on areas including pitch, tone, sight-reading and technique. Only students receiving scores of 98-100 are eligible for recommendation to the All-State ensembles.

The four selections represent a significant milestone for Oyster Bay High School’s music program. It has been 20 years since the school last had four students selected in a single year, matching the school’s previous record set in 2006. The 2026 group also equals the total number of Oyster Bay students selected for All-State during the entire 11-year period from 2015 through 2025.

For senior Aari Gupta, this year’s selection represents an additional distinction. After earning a spot in the 2025 All-State ensemble on Trombone II, he has been selected again for 2026, advancing to Trombone I.

The students will travel to Rochester from Dec. 3-6 to participate in the 90th Annual NYSSMA Winter Conference. During the conference, they will rehearse alongside some of New York’s most accomplished high school musicians under the direction of renowned conductors, then perform at the historic Eastman Theater.

The achievement reflects years of preparation and dedication from the four students, as well as the work of Oyster Bay High School’s music educators and the district’s continued commitment to music education.

A young person smiles while holding a shiny brass trombone in a music room.  A smiling young woman with long curly brown hair sits indoors next to a piano.

A young woman with long dark hair sits on a piano bench, smiling gently at the camera.  A young person sits indoors, holding a brass trombone with a piano visible in the background.