Anthony Pollera, Director of Music
631-730-4028

 Heather Smith, Secretary

Festival of Music Honors - May 2017

Ward Melville High School’s jazz band, string orchestra and symphony orchestra took part in and captured top honors during the Festivals of Music in the Parks competition in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
 
All three groups scored superior ratings, Jason Rahner won best overall soloist for jazz, the symphony orchestra won best overall orchestra, and the entire music department won the collective Esprit de Corps award for character, behavior and deportment.

All District Chorus Performs National Anthem at Mets Game- April 2017

The All District 6th grade Chorus performed the National Anthem and Take Me Out to the Ballgame during a recent home Mets game. The links below are videos from the performance.

View the All District Chorus Performances here

Celebrating Musicians - January 2017

During its early January meeting, the Board of Education celebrated 14 Ward Melville High School students who recently performed in the All-State Festival at the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference.

The Board and administration commended all of these students for their outstanding commitment to music and statewide recognition of their talents.

Selection to the festival is based on students’ NYSSMA scores from the previous spring, as well as teacher recommendations.

Top Music Honors - Fall 2016

In recognition of their outstanding musical talents, 14 Ward Melville High School students have been selected to perform in this year’s New York State School Music Association Winter Conference, and 40 have been chosen to perform in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education/Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Music Festival.

Selection to these festivals is based on the students’ NYSSMA scores from the previous spring, as well as teacher recommendations.

The All-County Festival will end in a musical showcase on Nov. 18 at Northport High School. The All-State concerts will take place in Rochester in December.
The district congratulates the following students:  

All-State Musicians 

All-County Musicians
 

Musicians Take Home Trophies - May 2016 

P.J. Gelinas and R.C. Murphy junior high school’s student-musicians showcased their talents this May during two separate Music in the Parks competitions

P.J. Gelinas competed at Great Adventure and the competition results were as follows:

Eighth- and Ninth-Grade Combined Orchestra - 1st Place

Chamber Orchestra - 1st Place & Best Overall

Ninth-Grade Band - 1st Place

Wind Ensemble - 1st Place & Best Overall

Jazz Ensemble - 1st Place

Vocal Vikings - 1st Place

Ben Fogarty and Greyson Nekrutman - Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award

Dana Smith - Outstanding Accompanist Award

R.C. Murphy competed at Hershey Park and the competition results were as follows:

RCM Ninth-Grade Band- 1st place

RCM Ninth-Grade Orchestra - 1st Place

RCM Chamber Orchestra - 1st Place

RCM Chamber Choir - 1st Place

RCM Chamber Orchestra - Best Overall Orchestra

RCM Chamber Choir- Best Overall Chorus

Ward Melville High School’s symphony orchestra and string orchestra recently participated in the Music in the Parks Competition in Hershey, Pennsylvania and earned top honors in their respective categories.

Both orchestras received first-place wins with superior ratings. In addition, the Symphony Orchestra received the coveted best overall trophy and was the highest scoring of all the instrumental and choral groups at the festival.

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Click here to watch a video about our elementary recorder program!!

Vocalists Volunteer

May 2016 - Arrowhead Elementary School’s sixth-grade chorus lent their melodic voices to a worthy cause this spring as they raised funds and donations for the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital pediatric cancer unit.

The students collected 53 DVDs and $485 in iTunes gift cards to be donated to the children receiving both inpatient and outpatient pediatric cancer treatment at the hospital.

The group was inspired to organize the fundraiser after they started preparing the song “Truly Brave” for the school’s spring concert. The song was featured on the “Today” show’s “Shine a Light” series and performed by Cyndi Lauper and Sara Bareilles to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer. The students were so moved by the song's intent that they came up with the idea for the fundraiser.

Pitch-Perfect Performances

Student-musicians from Minnesauke and Nassakeag elementary schools had the chance to showcase their talents on the regional stage when they took to center field and performed at the Long Island Ducks Stadium this May 2016. The crowd was in awe of their abilities and greeted them with boisterous rounds of applause.

One for the Record Books - January 2016

Singing This Holiday Season

Setauket's Band Performs at SUNY Stony Brook

Patriot Marching Band Performs at Newsday Festival 2015

Musicians Selected for Festivals - September 2015