Westglades Middle’s Riley Keyser Earns Prestigious Spot in All-State Honors Orchestra

by Ryan Yousefi December 2, 2024

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Westglades Middle’s Riley Keyser Earns Prestigious Spot in All-State Honors Orchestra

Riley Keyser, an eighth-grade viola player from Westglades Middle School. {courtesy}

Westglades Middle School has extra reason to celebrate this holiday season, as one of its orchestra members has earned a prestigious honor.

Riley Keyser, an eighth-grade viola player from Westglades Middle School, recently secured a coveted spot in the All-State Honors Orchestra.

Riley auditioned on September 19 at Coral Glades High School, performing excerpts and scales during an audition. A few weeks later, she was informed she had been chosen as part of the exclusive orchestra, and congratulatory messages flooded in from her teacher and classmates.

“When Riley found out she made it, she was shocked. She didn’t feel like she’d done her best during the audition, but it shows how much her hard work truly paid off,” said Elaine Keyser, Riley’s mother.

Elaine shares with Parkland Talk that Riley’s journey with the viola began three years ago, during the summer before her sixth-grade year. Initially drawn to the violin at Westglades Orchestra’s summer music camp, Riley discovered her love for the instrument’s deeper, mellower sound.

Since then, Riley has made incredible efforts to perfect her craft, a dedication that hasn’t gone unnoticed by her pupils.

“Riley puts in extraordinary effort,” said Alberto Zilberstein, Orchestra and Chorus Conductor at Westglades Middle School.

Riley’s family has been her biggest cheerleaders throughout her musical journey. Elaine shared their pride in her choice of the viola, an often underappreciated instrument. “The best rewards in life are the ones where you dig in and put in the effort. This is a terrific example of that,” said Elaine.

Riley, who describes her musical aspiration as striving to be “good enough to be proud of my performances,” has several upcoming opportunities to showcase her talent. This December, she will perform in the school’s orchestra concert and her viola teacher’s recital.

As for her next steps, Riley now has her sights set on rehearsals and performances with the All-State orchestra that begins in Tampa this January. But for now, she plans to celebrate the holiday season and continue to work on her craft with her Westglades teammates.

Reflecting on her accomplishments, Riley credits her love for music and desire to improve continuously. “We all want not to be insecure about our work,” she said. “It keeps me and my fellow orchestra players going—we’re always striving to play better and better.”

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Author Profile

Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.