Schools
Wantagh Students Take Part in Band Day
Wantagh High school students mentor younger musicians during al-day program.
Music, laughs and applause filled the air at the seventh annual Band Day held earlier this month at Wantagh High School.
Band Day is an all-day program where Wantagh High School Wind Ensemble students mentor younger musicians from the district. Throughout the day the students took part in a number of events. The activities included small group lessons taught by the older students, music related games, pizza lunch and demonstrations led by drum majors, Tatiana Cruz and Brendan Foley to learn about marching band.
The event featured an appearance by Wantagh High School’s very own Psy impersonator, Brandon Ngai accompanied by dancers Ryan Reyes and Paulina Renda who led the group of students in a large-scale Gangham Style dance. The day culminated in a full band rehearsal and concert with all of the student musicians. Family, friends and district representatives attended the performance.
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Wantagh High School Band Directors Mindy Dragovich and Danilo Aviles administer the program and the students of the High School Band Council run it. This year's Band Day chairs were Christine Kiefer and Danielle Berger.
The event had more than 100 younger students from grades 4-8 and 30 Wind Ensemble students participating this year.
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“It’s a really great day-well organized and with great music spirit,” said Ann Tigue, president of Wantagh Bandwagon. “All of the kids love the experience and they sound great.”
In a quick exit poll of the young musicians, the highlight of the day was a tough decision between the final performance with the big kids and the Gangham dancing.
“It is such a wonderful opportunity and unforgettable experience for the younger students to both learn from and play alongside the high school students,” said Christopher Cockren, band director at both Wantagh Elementary School and Mandalay Elementary School who kindly stepped in for the flu stricken Aviles. “The high school students don't just teach the younger students notes. They inspire them. Kids return to school Monday morning with a huge smile on their face, with a new found sense of pride in their music-making.”
