Under the stage lights, hundreds of East Meadow School District student-musicians gave a captivating performance for family, friends, faculty and administrators during the annual district music festival at LIU Post’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.
A total of 148 students from the district have been selected to perform in the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Festivals in January. Each of the seven concerts will take place at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. These student-musicians in grades 5-12 received this honor based on their New York State School Music Association solo evaluation and teacher recommendations. The district congratulates these students on their musical achievements!
In preparation for the New York City and Long Island Columbus Day parades, the marching bands of East Meadow and W.T. Clarke High Schools practiced their routines with the help of marching band clinicians. Each school’s band and color guard set aside a full day at the end of September to improve their tone, accuracy, rhythm and marching technique. To perfect their routine, W.T. Clarke’s students received assistance from marching band and color guard instructor Meaghan Neary, school band teachers Steve Barbieri and Molly Tittler, and percussion teacher Steve Blutman. The East Meadow High School students worked with Dr. Christopher Parks, director of athletic bands at Stony Brook University, as well as high school music chairperson Stephen Engle and music teachers Zachary Robason and Gregory Sisco. Dr. Parks also conducted leadership workshops that motivated and inspired the students to give their best in every performance.
East Meadow High School senior Kevin Martin has been invited to perform double bass in the Symphony Orchestra of the National Association for Music Education All-National Honor Ensembles in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 26-29. The All-National Honor Ensembles represents the top performing high school musicians across the United States in Concert Band, Mixed Choir, Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. To qualify, Kevin participated in the All-State festival at the 2016 NYSSMA Winter Conference and underwent a rigorous application process that included video recordings of his audition repertoire. The district congratulates Kevin on achieving this impressive accomplishment.
East Meadow High School senior Jolie Rebelo has been recognized as a Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar Artist for the 2017-2018 school year. According to the LIAA’s website, the Scholar-Artist program is a collaboration between the Long Island Arts Alliance, Newsday and New York Community Bank Foundation designed to recognize students judged to be “the best of the best” on Long Island. The distinction recognizes students who have an unweighted grade point average of 90 or above and represent high levels of artistic excellence in Music, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Theater or Dance. Every Long Island public, private or parochial high school may nominate up to five juniors each spring in one of the categories. Nominated students must submit a performance recording or portfolio of visual or media arts accompanied by an essay focusing on how the arts have enriched their lives. As a violinist, Jolie earned the distinction in music. Scholar-Artists receive a scholarship check for $250 and a framed copy of their Newsday profile, presented at the LIAA’s annual Gala at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. The district congratulates Jolie on attaining this honor.
Eight students from the district have been recognized by the New York State School Music Association for their outstanding musical talents and chosen to perform in the All-State Festival at NYSSMA’s 82nd Annual Winter Conference, to be held Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. An additional six students were named alternates. More than 6,500 sophomores and juniors in New York State performed in NYSSMA solo evaluation festivals last spring in the hopes of being selected for All-State. To qualify, students had to receive a score between 98 and 100 on their solo performance, judged by a NYSSMA All-State adjucator. From East Meadow High School, Jolie Rebelo has been selected to perform violin in the String Orchestra; Mary Zaradich will perform trombone in the Symphony Orchestra; John McGrath and Dominic Osojnak will perform Bb clarinet and snare drum, respectively, in the Symphonic Band; and Chelsea Padilla and Staci Wachsstock have been selected as alto II and soprano II, respectively, for the Mixed Choir. From W.T. Clarke High School, Jesse Hirshon will perform tuba in the Symphonic Band and Sophia Moreira will join the Symphony Orchestra as a violist. This year’s alternates are East Meadow High School students Stephanie Miley, alto saxophone; Osojnak, timpani; and Kacie Price, oboe; and W.T. Clarke High School students Joshua Dawson, snare drum; Frank Festa, bass I; Antonio Ianniello, jazz bass voice; and Devon Rafanelli, mallet percussion. The district commends these exceptionally talented students for their passion and dedication to music.
Francisco Avila - Bass II - Mixed Chorus
Joshua Cohan - Bassoon - Symphonic Band
Jamie Morein - Piccolo - Wind Ensemble
Jamie Morein - Flute - Symphony Orchestra
Jaden Nogee - Mallet Percussion - Symphonic Band
Arun Sam - Bass I - Mixed Chorus
Emily Shallbetter - Soprano II - Mixed Chorus
Kyle Barker - Jazz Bass Alternate
Kyle Barker - Double Bass Alternate
Alyssa Budzynski - Viola Alternate
Emily Crawford - Jazz Tenor Trombone Alternate
Matthew Erman - Jazz Alto Saxophone Alternate
Matthew Erman - Jazz Baritone Saxophone Alternate
Russell Ettinger - Jazz Trumpet Alternate
Matthew Koegel - Double Bass Alternate
Jaden Nogee - Snare Drum Alternate
Jaden Nogee - Timpani Alternate
Kirkland Sugrim - Double Bass Alternate
James Curran - Double Bass - Symphony Orchestra
Aaron Dawson - Snare Drum - Wind Ensemble
Michelle Hromin - Bb Clarinet - Symphonic Band
Lynn-Yen Koh - Bb Clarinet - Wind Ensemble
Katya Weiss - Violin - Symphony Orchestra
Jonathan Cozzoli - Violin Alternate
Jaclyn Gonzalez - Violoncello Alternate
Alby Joseph - Violoncello Alternate
Alexandra Michaelis - Piccolo Alternate
Alexandra Michaelis - Flute Alternate
Antonella Vigliotti - Flute Alternate
East Meadow High School is an AATCE (Apple Authorized training center for education), affording students with the opportunity to take the Apple certification exam upon completion of the Music Production class taught by our own Apple authorized trainer, Mr. Kinslow.
This past May, several students passed the very challenging Apple Certification test and achieved Apple Certified Pro status. This certification places students in a unique class of professionals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and a thorough knowledge of the art of recording. Additionally, this certification is a great resume builder for both college application and job seeking.
Congratulations to this elite group of students!
Pictured left to right: Jaden Nogee, Jordan Diamond, Gillian Pitzer, Robert Leone, Jack Megale, Natalie Weiss, Mr. Kinslow, Rachel Steiner, Rachel Heide.
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