Huntington Band Fest Draws 170 Students

This spring’s Band Fest at Huntington High School drew 170 band students spread across grades 4-12. This marks the first year the event has been held and organizers are pleased at how it went, terming the day a rousing success.

The day began at 9 a.m. with a well-received performance by the high school jazz ensemble directed by teacher Jason Giachetti. Sporting their blue-colored Band Fest t-shirts, the younger students enthusiastically answered questions about jazz ensemble solos they could identify.

Participants then split into sectional rehearsal groups based upon their respective instrument. District music faculty members Mitch Malle (fourth grade band director) and Tara Adams (fifth grade band director) taught the horn/saxophone sectional; Jessica Castaneda (fourth grade band director) led the clarinet sectional; Chelsea Jablon (sixth grade band director) taught the flute sectional; Frank Batista (Finley band director) led the low brass/low woodwind sectional; Brian Stellato (high school band director) taught the trumpet sectional and Jason Giachetti led the percussion sectional.

During the sectional rehearsals, the band directors taught three brand new pieces of music with the assistance of Huntington High School wind and jazz ensemble students. “It was awe-inspiring for the band directors to watch the high school students teach the Woodhull and primary school level musicians,” Ms. Jablon said. “The high school students not only taught notes and rhythms, but they were extremely eager to share their passion for the band program. Their positive spirits were contagious!”

While learning the new music in small groups, the students were also engaged in “meet and greet” activities to help initiate new friendships. “I wish we had even more sectional time,” sixth grader Noah Morris said.

Game-time followed the morning activities as Mr. Stellato and several high school marching band members led the younger students in a “march-off” competition. Within one hour, the students had learned a series of marching band commands and movements, which they had to remember when directed. Anyone walking through the high school during game-time could feel the building shake from the powerful pride in the voices of 170 students chanting “Go Blue!”

“I loved when the high school drum majors saluted the winner of the march-off,” sixth grader Julianna Joseph-Whyte said. “I had so much fun practicing the horns up and horns down commands.”

A pizza lunch came next of the schedule. Coordinated by the Band Parents Association of Huntington led by Dee Antonucci and Jennifer Dawson, the meal was welcomed by participants. The success of the band parents’ efforts was matched by their kindness to students of all ages throughout the day as they worked to insure everyone had an enjoyable experience.

At 1:30 p.m. the first ever Huntington Band Fest festival band came together on stage for a mass rehearsal. Students practiced the three new pieces they had earlier learned professionally and diligently and with a remarkable degree of camaraderie.

The Huntington High School wind ensemble sat among the festival band and played the new pieces beside them. The festival band also had the opportunity to watch and listen while the wind ensemble rehearsed their advanced repertoire. Many of the younger musicians could be seen fingering along, trying to catch some of the advanced notes as the older students played.

The 21 percussionists stood on the stage for the duration of the rehearsal executing very difficult parts with intensity and precision beyond their years. “Today was the most fun I have ever had,” fifth grader Bryce Vitulli said. The youngster told his mom: “You have to hear us, we sound amazing!”

The event culminated with a festive concert before a high school auditorium filled with excited parents, friends and family members. Messrs. Malle, Battista, Stellato and Giachetti and Ms. Castaneda, Mrs. Adams and Ms. Jablon are so devoted to the band program that they volunteered their Saturday and prior countless hours to make Band Fest possible.

“The best part was coming to school Monday morning and seeing the kids in their Band Fest t-shirts, still jazzed about Saturday’s event,” Ms. Jablon said.