William Floyd High School senior Jackson Seifert has been selected as a finalist in this year’s Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) Concerto and Vocal competition! Jackson is among only 16 finalists out of 80 total applicants, and just one of four in the Instrumental Finalists Division for grades nine through 12. Jackson, who plays the trombone, will perform his competition piece tonight, February 4 at 7 pm, at St. John Episcopal Church in Cold Spring Harbor!

Winners will be chosen by an esteemed jury, including Dr. Susan Deaver, on faculty at LIU Post, MSM Pre College, and Stony Brook University; Dr. David Fryling, Director of Choral Studies at Hofstra University; and Maureen Hynes, professional cellist and professor of conducting at the Manhattan School of Music. First-place winners of the competition, one instrumentalist and one vocalist from each of the Divisions, will win a cash award in the amount of $500 each and may be able to perform as a soloist with their MYO ensemble during the 2026-2027 season. There will also be awards for the second-, third-, and fourth-place winners, in each of the Instrumental and Vocal categories.

Jackson, who earlier this year was selected for The Juilliard Pre-College program, was also recently chosen for the National Youth Orchestra and will be performing at Carnegie Hall and have the opportunity to tour Europe with the group this summer!

About The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York (MYO)
The MYO is committed to fostering a community of talented musicians from Long Island and providing them with an opportunity to rehearse and perform choral and orchestral masterworks at the highest possible level with recognized leaders in music education and performance. Founded in the fall of 1993 by John C. McNeur, MYO has grown from one orchestra of 15 members to seven orchestras and seven choirs, serving more than 800 musicians between the ages of eight and 18.