William Floyd High School senior Jackson Seifert has been named a finalist in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) Concerto and Vocal Competition. Out of 80 applicants, Seifert is one of only 16 finalists and one of four in the Instrumental Finalists Division for grades nine through twelve. He plays the trombone and will perform his competition piece on February 4 at St. John Episcopal Church in Cold Spring Harbor.
Winners will be selected by a jury that includes Dr. Susan Deaver, who is 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. The first-place winners—one instrumentalist and one vocalist from each division—will receive a $500 cash award and may have an opportunity to perform as soloists with their MYO ensemble during the 2026-2027 season. Awards will also be given to second-, third-, and fourth-place winners in both categories.
Earlier this year, Seifert was selected for The Juilliard Pre-College program. He was also chosen for the National Youth Orchestra and will perform at Carnegie Hall before touring Europe with the group this summer.
The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York (MYO) was founded in 1993 by John C. McNeur. It now includes seven orchestras and seven choirs serving more than 800 musicians aged eight to eighteen from Long Island.
The William Floyd School District operates ten schools including a high school, academy, middle schools, and elementary schools, serving over 9,400 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade according to its official website. The district has received recognition for its music program among top communities for music education as well as accolades for its business department from state associations (source). Alumni from William Floyd have been recognized for contributions in scholarships, education leadership, and community service (source). The district emphasizes collaboration among students, parents, educators, staff, and community members to support student development across multiple areas (source).
