Lynbrook Students Host 11th Annual Cabaret Night

The lights were low and the air was full of excitement as the crowd anxiously awaited the start of ’s 11^th annual Cabaret Night on Friday, Jan. 20.

Every year for over a decade, the Tri-M Music Honor Society has transformed the high school cafeteria into a cozy cabaret to showcase student talent while raising money for charity. The event has grown over the years from an informal presentation of a few songs to an elaborate production of two acts of talent performed to sold-out crowds.

Through their efforts, students raised $1,500 for the food pantries at in East Rockaway and in Lynbrook.

The young performers infused their personal styles into 20 performances that included a varied selection of group and solo vocal renditions of popular hits, instrumental performances, classical guitar numbers, modern dance interpretations and original compositions.

House band members Benjamin Barnett, Evan Biegel, Zachary Daniels, Ryan Dusenbury, Sarah Gebbia, Matthew Gomm, Kyle Parsard and Isaac Polinsky set the mood for the evening, playing an assortment of cool jazz numbers to warm up the crowd.

Auditions for Cabaret Night were open to the entire school. Tri-M officers Christina Cuevas, Matthew Gomm, Ryan Dusenbury, Fionnuala O'Donnell, Benjamin Barnett and Hannah Deegan judged the entries, assisted by Tri-M advisor Alyssa Panitch.

“I’ve always enjoyed performing at Cabaret Night,” said Cuevas, who was the master of ceremonies for the evening. “This venue gives us a chance to show off unique talents and styles that you don’t necessarily see in a regular school performance. And to know that we are doing it all to benefit charity gives us all extra motivation to make the evening a success.”

"Our Tri-M members, especially the Board members, worked very hard to make this night a success,” added Ms. Panitch. “Everything from the stage crew to refreshments to ticket selling was arranged and run by the students."

The Lynbrook Tri-M chapter is a service organization that contributes to the school and surrounding communities through musical performances and student mentoring. Students are carefully selected for this international honor society on the basis of scholarship, character, leadership and service.

Throughout the year, Tri-M members usher and assist teachers with stage crew duties at all of the district’s winter and spring concerts. In December, a group of Tri-M members visited the residents of in Lynbrook. Members also take on other service and performance responsibilities throughout the year.

The next Tri-M event will be an induction ceremony for new members on Thursday, February 16, at 7:30 pm in the high school auditorium.