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Two Fairport High School seniors will take the stage this spring in a celebration of music education, and in recognition of their own accomplishments. Noor Rouhana (violin) and Reid Canham (oboe) were selected to perform and represent Fairport in the upcoming National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Conference.
Rouhana and Canham’s paths to All-Eastern are studies of perseverance and of joy. The two musicians met in ninth grade and have made Fairport High School’s Music Department their home base.
“I’ve never made any more friendships than I did last year in the music community,” said Canham. “There have been so many great people in this community, especially in Fairport, but from other schools as well. It’s been super great to just connect with one another with music.”
The connections the two musicians have made go beyond relationships with their fellow students.
“I think it’s not only the peers but definitely the teachers,” said Rouhana. “It’s really special. Elena Ryck, the orchestra director, really has introduced me to the professional world. She invited me to sub in with her string quartet…as a high school student, not many others are able to do that.”
Both students participate in music ensembles and lessons outside of school. Rouhana was recently named a runner-up for the “Ruth and Sidney Salzman Award for Strings” in last year’s Young Artist Auditions competition held by the Rochester Philharmonic League. Rouhana is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO), and was named co-concertmaster of the orchestra in 2021, an honor that continues through the end of this year.
In both 2021 and 2022, Canham was selected for a principal oboe scholarship with the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra, the music school’s highest-level student ensemble.
“Dedicated to virtually every musical endeavor in the Fairport schools and in the greater Rochester community, Noor and Reid [are] two of our most accomplished and recognized musicians,” said Fairport High School music faculty member Bill Tiberio.
“Beyond that, they are well-rounded students whose contributions to our musical ensembles and our school are invaluable.”
Both musicians said the guidance of their instructors in Fairport have helped them hone their skills. Canham and Rouhana also thanked their families and their outside instructors for their support throughout their schooling.
Canham and Rouhana will participate in the All-Eastern Conference in Rochester in April. 700 top student musicians who excelled in their local, county and state conferences were invited to perform at the All-Eastern Conference. Those performers will represent all twelve states in the Eastern Division.