Blue Devil Band is on the March
The Huntington Blue Devil marching band is on the move after a successful August band camp at the school. Student musicians are busy mastering the many aspects of this year’s field show, Bacchanale which will face its first competitive test on Sat. Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. in Lindenhurst.
"The HBDMB is off to an energetic, positive and productive start," said band director Brian Stellato, referring to the band by its acronym. "This year's HBDMB is full of members who truly work hard and care about having a fun and successful season."
The band will participate in competitions throughout the fall at Lindenhurst, Copiague, Brentwood, Levittown, Arlington, Mineola, in upstate Phoenix and at the state championships in Syracuse on Oct. 26. This year’s show, Bacchanale features the story of Samson and Delilia.
Mr. Stellato is joined in his work by band program coordinator Jason Giachetti, designers Eugene Bennett (drill design), Michael Marchena (color guard design), Rich Guillan (wind/brass arranger) and Robert Sanderl (percussion arranger). Instructors include Mr. Bennett (visual), Mr. Marchena (color guard), Frank Battista (front ensemble), Noel Bordon (visual), Timothy Caskin (music/visual), Amy Gagnon (color guard), Sue Hahn (music/visual), Richard Liebowitz (music/visual) and Simon MacVicar (battery).
Each summer, band camp sets the stage for the fall competitive season. “Band camp was a huge success,” said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. “The students had a wonderful time, worked really hard and accomplished learning all the music and all of the drill sets for the fall show. The weather was magnificent the whole week, which everyone really appreciated.”
Students Victoria Alexander and Christine Corcoran will serve as the 2008 drum majors. "The student leaders are being given more responsibility and played a key role in why we had such a great band camp week,” Mr. Stellato said. “We have a wonderful group of drum majors, section leaders, and color guard captains"
The Huntington band will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2009. Participants routinely express pride in its storied tradition and the band has perennially been one of the state’s best. Students are once again being asked to “step up” and make the 2008 band a worthy successor to those of years past.
"I believe that the more responsibility and special roles we give to the students, the more they feel real ownership of their band program,” Mr. Stellato said. “The more they feel like it's their band, the more they will care about what they're doing and want to be there for all those hours of rehearsal."
The six day band camp concluded with a flourish. “The week ended with a show for the parents, who filled our stands,” Ms. Fretz said. “It was amazing to see the students playing the demanding music by memory and remembering all of their drill designs, too. I don't know how they do it!”
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