Music Department News
We’ve Got the Beat!
Kindergarteners in Briarcliff School have been learning to create musical compositions with music teacher Ms. Cara Brown. Using a web-based version of the Incredibox app that allows students to create their own music with an animated crew of beatboxers, they learned how to combine rhythm, melody, harmony and special effects to create a complete work. After working together to create the composition, each class made a recording to share with their families via their Music Google Classroom.
“There are different styles of music that they can choose in the Incredibox app, and each style has a different collection of samples, so they are definitely excited to go home and experiment,” Ms. Brown said.
Here is a sample composition from Mrs. Radonavitch's class:
https://www.incredibox.com/mix/aa52f4e57281547fd028-v4
Senior Selected to NAfME Honors Orchestra
Congratulations to senior Mika Misawa who was selected into the National Association for Music Education 2021 All-Eastern Honors Orchestra. Mika is one of only 165 high school orchestral musicians from Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont to be accepted into the prestigious event.
Mika and fellow All-Eastern students in the orchestra, symphonic band, mixed chorus, treble chorus and jazz ensemble will participate in a virtual weekend experience in early March that will include keynote speakers, master classes with professional musicians and rehearsals with their conductors. The event will also offer opportunities for students to learn and network with representatives from various colleges and universities and participate in mock auditions.
This nontraditional and unique experience will be different from the in-person rehearsals and concert that have, in the past, coincided with NAfME’s Eastern Division biennial conference. This year, students will individually record their performance from home led by a virtual performance of their conductor. The recordings will be edited together to produce a virtual ensemble for the concert performance, slated for April 23 at 8:30 p.m. at the 57th NAfME Eastern Division Virtual In-Service Conference.
CARTER RUBIN WINS ‘THE VOICE’
The Shoreham-Wading River School community congratulates sophomore Carter Rubin who took the title as champion of “The Voice” last night. Keeping community residents, peers, teachers and students at all grade levels on the edges of their seats, Carter made history by being named the youngest male winner ever.
Carter, who worked with team coach Gwen Stefani for the 19th season of the show, praised his family, his community and Ms. Stefani for inspiring him throughout the process. He also sang a holiday duet with her in an exciting performance before the dramatic announcement of his win.
With pride, we all thank Carter for sharing his joyful sounds and inspiring us this holiday season.
Share in the joy:
Check back soon for another congratulatory video!
CARTER RUBIN VIRTUALLY MEETS SECOND GRADERS!
SWR High School sophomore Carter Rubin took time out of his busy schedule appearing as a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” to take part in a Google Meet with students at Miller Avenue School.
Ms. Courtney Von Bargen’s second grade class had an opportunity to listen to and ask questions of the SWR singer and finalist in the show’s 19th season. Carter, a very active singer who has appeared in many concerts as a member of SWR’s school choirs and dramatic productions, continues to wow audiences and coaches with his performances as the youngest contestant in the show’s current season.
The second graders created posters and banners to continue to cheer Carter on. As Miller Avenue Principal Mrs. Claudia Smith said, “Carter is bringing so much joy to the Shoreham-Wading River school community!”
PRODELL EDUCATOR SERVES AS CLINICIAN AT VIRTUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Albert G. Prodell Middle School music teacher Mr. John Samonte served as a clinician for the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association PEAK (Parents, Educators and Kids) festival. The annual event – consisting of classroom music workshops for fourth graders and their parents – took place on a virtual platform this year.
The festival is an opportunity for students and parents to participate together in real-time music making. It also serves as a professional development workshop for music educators, where they can observe the invited clinicians’ work with students to gain lesson ideas and learn best practices for their own music classroom. Mr. Samonte’s workshop guided students and their families through fun and explorative movement and vocal games and activities.
“It was quite incredible to see many students make music with the parents at home,” Mr. Samonte said of the more than 200 participants. “I believe our job as music teachers is to connect our families, friends and community through the arts, and it was very rewarding to see the students so joyfully engaged in the music.”
Mr. Samonte further commended the festival organizers and dedicated music educators across Suffolk County. “Their push for a high-quality music education is not only inspiring to me, but is also a reminder of the kind of teacher we should all strive to become,” he said.
High School Musical Expressions!
SWR High School music students have had numerous opportunities to share their musical talents in both the school district and in the greater community. Members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society had a busy month volunteering their time, spreading cheer and performing music with visits to the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook, the Little Flower School in Wading River and AHRC in Shoreham. The group also planned and performed their second annual holiday concert at the North Shore Public Library to a large audience of community members. The High School Orpheus Ensemble also spread holiday cheer around the community through various musical performances. This select group of senior string musicians includes Grace DelSeni and Margaret Panasci on violin, Stephanie Searing and William Wells on viola and Alexander Kravchenko on cello. These students practice together throughout the year to be able to perform at school and community functions. In December, the ensemble performed music at AHRC in Shoreham, the Long Island State Veterans Home, the North Shore Public Library, the annual Wading River Historical Society Holiday Tea at the Wading River Congregational Church, the High School’s Blue Ribbon ceremony and the annual Miller Avenue School Art Show. “These students volunteered their time to perform at all of these events, and we are extremely grateful for their generosity and hard work,” music teacher Ashley O'Connor said. The concert choir also had a unique opportunity to perform at the Patchogue Theater along with Centereach High School students to sing with the Long Island Concert Orchestra. The students joined the LICO in singing Believe from The Polar Express, Beethoven’s Fantasy for Piano Choir and Orchestra and the Hallelujah Chorus among other pieces. “We were thrilled to be invited back to perform with this concert,” music teacher Dennis Creighton said. “The opportunity to sing with a professional orchestra is such a rare gift we can offer our students. This performance is a great testament to the hard work and time our students put into their musicianship and sense of community during the holiday season.” The musical festivities continued throughout the district when students went caroling at Prodell Middle School, Wading River School and Miller Avenue School, providing inspiration and a powerful message of school community spirit.
Two music scholarships for Christopher Wygonik
High School student Christopher Wygonik has a busy musical summer ahead – being the recipient of two music scholarships.
Christopher was awarded the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association Scott Hammer Summer Scholarship for summer music study and the Long Island String Festival Association Award for high school juniors. He was chosen for these scholarships based on his participation and achievements in music, past evaluations at the New York State School Music Association solo festival and teacher recommendations.
He will continue his musical studies at the NYSSMA New York State Summer School for the Arts at Skidmore College.
The Shoreham-Wading River School District congratulates Christopher for his musical achievements.
Recognizing musical achievements at Tri-M Induction
At a festive and harmonious ceremony and reception, the High School has inducted 24 new members into its chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
A program of the National Association for Music Education, which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy, SWR chapter’s goal is to inspire and recognize musical achievement in the school music department.
In addition to writing a music-inspired essay, students had to perform a New York State School Music Association Level 3 or higher solo for the high school music faculty. They must also maintain a minimum average of 90 in music classes and an overall GPA of 80. Inductees were also required to participate in one of the high school’s music ensembles – band, orchestra, chorus, jazz band, chamber orchestra or the Vocal Express, the school’s acclaimed a cappella group.
At the ceremony, students Grace DelSeni, Alex Kravchenko, Margaret Panasci, Stephanie Searing and William Wells performed string music for the processional and recessional, and Alexandra Meli sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
The following students have been inducted into the Shoreham-Wading River High School Tri-M Music Honor Society:
Kevin Beagen, Ben Carrier, Ray Colon, Olivia DesRoches, Sara Grosso, Daniel Julian, William Keck, Maya Klatsky, Michael Kruzynski, Sarah Kruzynski, Andrew Liguori, Emma Longboat, Rianna Lotito, Mika Misawa, Torre Ann Parrinello, Michael Sabino, Rachael Sereno, Sarah Sheridan, Sofia Stirpe, Justin Stuart, Kaylee Thomsen, Nicolette Tingo, Eleanora Undrus and Larissa Verdi.
WRES students raise their voices at SCMEA All-County Festival
Thirteen students will represent Wading River School at this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Festival at Central Islip High School on Sunday, March 11 at 1 p.m.
Following three days of rehearsals at Mount Sinai High School, fifth-graders Emma Granshaw, Katherine Grzymala, Samantha Murtha, Megan Ruta and Hannah Scotto will sing in the SCMEA East Division I concert alongside the best student vocalists in Suffolk County in grades 5 and 6. Orchestra students Siena Faragasso, Elizabeth Finter, Kerrin McGuire, Katelyn Schaefer and Cameron Sheedy and Band students Abigail Haverty, Sal Meli and Sophia Stadler will also perform.
These exceptional young musicians were selected based on past performances and teacher recommendation.
Fifth-graders perform at Long Island String Festival
Eleven fifth-grade students from Wading River School showcased their exceptional talents at the Long Island String Festival Association concert, recently held at Northport High School.
Students Andrew Costello, Siena Faragasso, Elizabeth Finter, Yiya Hu, Kerrin McGuire, Johanna Ochsenfeld, Caroline Panasci, Damian Perez, Cameron Sheedy, Katie Schaefer and Sophia Stadler were selected to perform in the prestigious concert.
These students were selected for this honor along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations.
“On behalf of our District, we congratulate and celebrate all these accomplished musicians,” said Wading River Principal Louis Parrinello.
A musical experience for Prodell students
Four students from Albert G. Prodell Middle School will represent the district’s exceptional music program as participants at the Long Island String Festival Association’s intermediate concert to be held at Northport-East Northport High School from Jan. 26-28.
Sixth-grader Alex Zhang will perform on violin under the direction of conductor Steve Fayette, who retired from Shoreham-Wading River’s music faculty in 2015. Seventh-graders Shiqi Cheng (viola) and Ben Panasci (double bass) and eighth-grader Natalie Acker (double bass) will work with Kenneth Jernigan, a world-traveled music educator and skilled leader who has guest conducted numerous music festivals on all levels throughout the Northeast and Florida. The students were selected to perform based on their New York State School Music Association scores and teacher recommendations.
Middle School music teacher Frederick Volz is excited for the students’ participation, which is an outstanding accomplishment that allows them to experience working with other highly talented young string musicians and continue their musical development.
High School Students Share the Gift of Music
Members of the High School Tri-M Music Honor Society visited the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook and the Little Flower School in Wading River to spread cheer and perform music for the residents and students.
The student-musicians had the opportunity to interact with the residents at the Veterans Home and learn about their lives and service. At the Little Flower School, all the students collaborated and learned how to perform a song on handbells.
A program of the National Association for Music Education, which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy, Tri-M is the only national honor society for student musicians in secondary schools.
According to Ashley O’Connor, music teacher and chapter advisor, SWR chapter’s goal is to inspire and recognize musical achievement in the school music department.
High School inducts 47 students into inaugural Tri-M Music Honor Society
Shoreham-Wading River High School has established a chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and inducted 47 members at a ceremony and reception on Sept. 18.
The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education, which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. Tri-M is the only national honor society for student musicians in secondary schools.
According to Ashley O’Connor, music teacher and chapter advisor, SWR chapter’s goal is to inspire and recognize musical achievement in the school music department.
In addition to writing a music-inspired essay, students must perform a New York State School Music Association Level 3 or higher solo for the high school music faculty. They must also maintain a minimum average of 90 in music classes and an overall GPA of 80. Inductees were also required to participate in one the high school’s music ensembles – band, orchestra, chorus, jazz band, chamber orchestra or the Vocal Express, the school’s acclaimed a capella group.
The following students are the inaugural inductees of the SWR Tri-M Music Honor Society:
Hannah Anuszewski
Kelly Beagen
Ashley Buro
Brett Callagy
Caleigh Capek
Victoria Coman
Jack Crowley
Cooper Cummings
Lindsay Deegan
Grace DelSeni
Vanessa DeRosso
DesiEmmanuel Desire
Eric DiLisio
Natalie Epp
Jack Flatley
Brennan Gorman
Jacqueline Holden
Andrew Honold
Rose Honold
Alexa Ibrahim
Madisyn King
Nicole Klein
Julianna Kohlus
Alexander Kravchenko
Francesca Lilly
Joshua Louser
Elisabeth Mallon
Nicholas Mango
Kerry Mannix
Sophia Mastrangelo
Arianna McMorris
Alexandra Meli
Gabriella Meli
Carley Nicoletti
Ryan Nowak
Margaret Panasci
Kendall Pluschau
Zachary Roff
Stephanie Searing
Brianna Scholl
Michelle Steimel
Anna Strack
Joshua Stumm
Alice VanWickler
William Wells
Christopher Wygonik
Tyler Wynkoop
Students in grades 9-12 will be eligible to apply in the spring of 2018 to join this elite group.
SWR HS musicians selected for coveted festivals
Four students from Shoreham-Wading River High School have been selected to perform in the 2017 New York State School Music Association’s All-State Festival. The event will take place at the Rochester Convention Center in Rochester, New York, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.
Selected to perform are Jack Flatley, voice, Alexandra Meli, vocal jazz, Christopher Wygonik, double bass, and Justin Stuart, voice, as an alternate.
Additionally, eight students from the District were selected as All-County musicians. They are Brett Callagy, viola, Jack Flatley, voice, Julianna Kohlus, french horn, Kerry Mannix, voice, Alexandra Meli, tuba, Ryan Nowak, voice, Justin Stuart, voice, and Christopher Wygonik, trombone. They will perform at a concert at Hauppauge High School on Friday, Nov. 17.
“We are all proud of these talented students,” said Shoreham-Wading River High School Music Coordinator David Minelli. “This honor is a testament to their dedication to the field of music.”
The rigorous process for selecting All-State and All-County musicians includes teacher recommendations, audition scores at the NYSSMA solo evaluation festival during the prior spring, and participation in other performing organizations.
String Workshop
High school orchestra students participated in a string workshop about instrument maintenance and repair that was led by Charles Rufino, Long Island Violin Shop Owner and Monica Behler, education coordinator on May 31.
“The speakers provided valuable information to students about how string instruments are made and how to properly clean and care for them,” said Ashley O’Connor, orchestra teacher.
Student Musicians Excel at NYSSMA
Over 300 Shoreham-Wading River School District student-musicians participated in the New York State Music Association Solo/Ensemble Festival on May 13 and 14 at Eastport-South Manor High School.
During the festival, the students in grades second through 12th performed solos for a trained NYSSMA adjudicator and received comments and a grade.
“The results were outstanding,” said music teacher David Minelli. “Congratulations to all our students for their diligence in preparing their solos and to the parents for their support of music education.”
Orpheus Ensemble Performs
The high school’s select string quartet, the Orpheus Ensemble, entertained an audience at the Suffolk County High School Principals Association’s Senior Leadership Luncheon on April 26. The student performers, Joseph Desiderio, Mackenzie Zajac, Brett Callagy and Alexandra Meli, performed several selections as guests arrived and during lunch services. Alexandra Meli also sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. This is one of the many community events that the Orpheus Ensemble performs at throughout the year.
A Day of Strings
Two High School student-musicians recently participated in String Day at the Long Island University Post campus on April 8. During the event, Grace DelSeni and Stephanie Searing attended master classes instructed by LIU music faculty members, learned about audition preparation and sight read music in a group reading session.
All-Eastern Singer
For his outstanding musical abilities, Shoreham-Wading River High School senior Rohin McIntosh was invited to perform at the prestigious National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Conference in Atlantic City, April 5-8.
Rohin was selected based on his performances at NYSSMA and teacher recommendations. This is not the first time that he has been recognized for his singing talents. In the past, he has been invited to participate in the All-National, All-State and All-County conferences.
Rohin has been participating in chorus since the fifth grade and was first introduced to singing by his mother, who is a classical Indian singer. In addition to his vocal abilities, McIntosh is a classical pianist and participates in his school’s Vocal Express a capella group and school thespian performances.
Aside from having musical talent, Rohin is an academic scholar who is a member of his school’s Brainstormers and Mathleetes teams and varsity tennis team. He is also an Eagle Scout.
In the fall, Rohin will attend Princeton University to study biophysics and math with a possible minor in music.
All-County Musicians
Seven Wading River School students Cara Kluepfer, Shayne Hughes, Emily Murray, Maggie Parkin, Sydney Serio, Eve VanWickler and Alex Zhang were selected to perform in the prestigious SCMEA Festival. The students received the honor based on their NYSSMA solo performances and teacher recommendations.
