WESTBURY, N.Y. (WENY) -- The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) has canceled this year's All State Festival and Winter Conference.

The event is held annually at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

But this year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has been scrapped.

According to a release, the festival would have drawn 900 student-musicians and 2,000 music educators.

The selection process for this year's All State ensembles is already complete. NYSSMA President Dr. David Brown says students will be notified in August of their status.

“While this year’s festival will not be held, we believe it is important to acknowledge the musical efforts of those students who applied by recognizing their acceptance into our prestigious ensembles," Dr. Brown said. "We hope that in some small way teachers, families, and friends can find a way to celebrate the accomplishment of being selected to a New York All-State Ensemble.”

Throughout NYSSMA's history, the decision to cancel the All State Festival and Winter Conference has been made only twice, according to a release. The even was called off during the war years of 1943-1945, and then again in 1991 because of the ice storm that caused power outages throughout New York State.