Warwick students from Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools were accepted into the Rhode Island Music Education Association All-Star Ensembles, and performed in a statewide virtual concert on Sunday, May 2.

Abigail Hang, Alexander Hang, Benjamin Passarelli, Brianna Callahan, Emily Gallant, Gavin Gillooly, Jayden Weichtmann, Kingston DaLomba, Nathanael Moore, Rowen Klyberg, Sofi McCann, and Teagan McNamara represented Pilgrim High School, and Julia Cutler, Zachary Fulford, Julia Maker, Micah Malone, and Hailey Randall represented Toll Gate High School.

The world premiere of the 2021 RI All-State Concert was held last Sunday, May 2.

“These all-state musicians spent countless hours over the past several months honing their craft and rehearsing for the concert,” said David Neves, advocacy chair of the RI Music Education Association (RIMEA), in a press release from April 30. “They represent what is possible when students are given opportunities in their schools to develop and explore the musical skills that are part of every human being.”

Students from Pilgrim and Toll Gate were among 600 students statewide in grades 7 to 12 that performed in guitar ensembles, choirs, jazz bands, concert bands, and orchestras.

The concert was streamed on YouTube and featured congratulatory messages from Gov. Dan McKee, RI Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green, Ron and Pete Cardi of Cardi’s Furniture, as well as professional musicians like Andrew Forrest and Philip Sparke, who arranged and composed some of the songs performed, and Grammy nominated artists like renowned saxophonist Gerald Albright.