December 14th, 2011 by Mr. Green
On Saturday, November 19, seven fourth-grade students at Commack Road Elementary School (CRES), along with their music teacher Michael Baur, were selected to represent the district at the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s (SCMEA) annual PEAK (Parents, Educators, and Kids) Festival. The festival, which was held this year at Northport High School, gives talented fourth-grade students an opportunity to learn and experience music in addition to performing it.
Selected students were invited to attend morning workshops in various and uncharted realms of music, giving them a unique musical experience and the chance to bring new ideas back to their music classroom. Expert clinicians led sessions in Orff Instrument Ensembles, Maypole Dancing, Singing Games, Tap Dance, Hand Bells, and Chorus. The clinicians also explained and demonstrated their methodology and enhanced teaching techniques for classroom teachers to take back to their home districts. Continue reading ‘CRES students at PEAK Festival’
November 28th, 2011 by Mr. Green
Click the CONTINUE link to see articles from the Inside Islip Schools Newsletter about All-County, the Hofstra Middle Level Honors Band, and two students selected for a festival in Rhode Island! Continue reading ‘Islip Musicians in the News’
October 14th, 2011 by Mr. Green
The Suffolk Chapter of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music (NYSCAME) will hold its annual All-County Festival at Huntington High School on November 18, 2011. The finest High School musicians in Suffolk County have been selected to perform in ensembles under the leadership of skilled guest conductors. After many hours of rehearsals, these students will perform a concert of highly challenging works at a level approaching, if not equal to that of professional ensembles.
In a county as large as Suffolk, All-County selections are highly competitive. On the secondary level, students are selected by virtue of the score they received at the NYSSMA Solo Festival held the previous spring, which must be among the highest in the county.
Islip High School is proud to be represented by:
MIXED CHORUS
- Douglas Mackay Bass 1
- Michael McAlpin* Bass 1
- Catherine Weston Soprano 2
WOMEN’S CHOIR
* Michael McAlpin has also been selected as an Alternate to the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble, a group of 24 musicians selected from amongst hundreds of the top high school vocalists across New York State.
October 14th, 2011 by Mr. Green
Islip Middle School and the Islip School District are proud to announce that Gianna Pugliese and Faith Terrill are among the nearly 100 students accepted to The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Eastern Division Honor Choir. They will travel to Providence, RI for rehearsals in February 2012. The Eastern Division Honor Choir will then perform for an audience of nearly 2,000 at Providence’s Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium on February 18th, 2012. Students will travel with family members to the event, which coincides with the ACDA Eastern Division Conference.
Commack Road Music teacher Michael Baur sponsored applications for the two students. To be accepted, the students and Mr. Baur prepared performance recordings which were evaluated by a committee of choral music experts. They were chosen from hundreds of applicants in 11 states and Washington D.C. for this singular honor.
Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit professional organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching. In addition, ACDA strives to elevate choral music’s position in American society through arts advocacy.
