Farmingdale HS Marching Band To Perform At Festival

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Farmingdale High School marching band is set to perform in the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival on Thursday night.

The festival is set to begin 7 p.m. at Mitchell Field Athletic Complex. The Daler Marching Band will play the National Anthem, Farmingdale Superintendent Paul Defendini said in a letter to the community.

The Farmingdale community was rocked on Sept. 21 when the bus carrying the marching band to Greeley, Pennsylvania, for an annual band camp trip crashed and tumbled down a 50-foot ravine in Orange County. Gina Pellettiere, the band instructor, and Bea Ferrari, a retired teacher who chaperoned the trip each year, were killed. Dozens of students were also injured but have recovered or are expected to.

"There are a number of special considerations being made throughout the night in celebrating the lives of Gina, Bea, and our heroic marching band, Dalerettes and Daler Guard," Defendini said. "It is an event that you do not want to miss."

Tickets can be purchased here.

"Bring the whole family, bring your Daler blankets, bring some hot chocolate, and, of course, bring your Daler Spirit," Defendini said. "Let's get out there and support our students on what will certainly be a night to remember."

The students performed at the Farmingdale homecoming game earlier this month — just two weeks after the bus crash.

There was a consensus among students that Pellettiere — or "Ms. P as they knew her — would have wanted them to continue performing.

"This is definitely what she would’ve wanted," Philip Sullivan, a senior trumpet player in the Farmingdale marching band, told Patch during the homecoming game. "I know she’s looking down on us right now, happy that we’re back performing, carrying on her legacy."

The marching band was also honored at the New York Islanders hockey game on Tuesday night. More than 500 students, parents, and staff descended on the UBS arena.

"We draped the arena in Daler Green," Defendini wrote. "It was a generous offer by the Islanders and just another opportunity for our Daler community to spend some time together."

The Islanders beat the Arizona Coyotes 1-0.

"Stay strong, Farmingdale; this community is awesome in its continued support of those in need," Defendini said. "You are doing great, and there is no doubt we will emerge stronger and more connected than ever before."

Related:

• Thank You, 'Ms. P': Honoring The Music Teacher And Her Impact On Us
• Gina Pellettiere's Rise To Farmingdale Band Director
• Remembering Gina Pellettiere: Farmingdale Band Students Share Memories
• Farmingdale HS Marching Band Performs 2 Weeks After Tragic Bus Crash
• 'Life Of The Party': Beloved Farmingdale Music Teacher Laid To Rest
• 'The Most Beautiful Soul': Farmingdale's Bea Ferrari Mourned
• Eat Pizza, Help Farmingdale Marching Band: 100 LI Pizzerias Join Cause
• Nearly $3K More Raised For 'Ms. P's' Son At 2nd Farmingdale Fundraiser
• Fundraisers For 'Ms. P's' Son, Farmingdale Students Hurt In Bus Crash
• LI Students Critically Injured In Bus Crash In 'Less Critical Care'