Whiz Kid: AJ Bellocco

Name:  Agostino John Bellocco, 12 years old. 

School: Seventh-grader at

Accomplishment: Bellocco is a very talented musician.

Key To Awesomeness:  Bellocco says that Charlie Parker is an amazing musician and his inspiration. How many kids even know who Parker is these days? 

Bellocco is a pretty amazing musician, himself.  A seventh-grader at H.B. Thompson Middle School, Bellocco plays three instruments:  Piano, Clarinet and Saxophone. He made All-County in Clarinet, performs in H.B. Thompson’s coveted Jazz Band, the Nassau/Suffolk island-wide honors band and competes at level 5 in NYSSMA (Level 6 for classical Sax.)

“I love music and listen to everything," Bellocco said. "Like…Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and some Billy Joel. But, [Charlie] Parker’s incredible.”

Monday night Bellocco showed his chops at the re-scheduled H.B. Thompson Jazz band winter concert where he improvised solo's during songs by Herbie Hancock “Watermelon Man” and “Chameleon,” and “Java Jive” by Ben Oakland.

This was Bellocco’s second year in the band conducted by beloved band Director Jim Malanowski – or Mr. Mal as the kids call him.

Mom Donnamaria says he loved music since toddler-hood.  AJ started in first grade with piano and is now taking lessons from Woodbury teacher Ellen Goldhaber. He then took up clarinet in second grade, adding Saxophone in fourth grade - beating Parker who began playing at 11.

“I love to improvise and the Sax is a great instrument for that,” Bellocco said. His other two teachers, Scott Hoefling for Saxophone, and Peggy Ho on clarinet, would agree that music is his thing.

During the summer, Bellocco spends time playing at Usdan Camp for music in Wheatly Heights.

“I ‘d love to go to school for music, you know, maybe Julliard,” Bellocco said smiling widely.

He dreams of making a career in music. This week’s Whiz Kid goes to A.J. Bellocco.  If you know of another Syosset Whiz kid, let us know.  

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