Jacob Labarge fell in love with music many years ago and since then the Huntington High School senior has become one of New York’s elite young performers.
Mr. Labarge recently won the Atlantic Wind Symphony’s high school student solo competition. The award carries with it a $200 stipend. The teenager will perform solo with the symphony at a concert on Sunday, June 4 at 3 p.m. at the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts.
Top musicians from Nassau and Suffolk counties auditioned during the competition. Mr. Labarge will perform “Fantasie Pastoral Hongroise” composed by John R. Bourgeois. “I am extremely excited to start working with the Atlantic Wind Symphony on one of my favorite pieces in the flute repertoire,” the senior said.
“Formed in 1968, the Atlantic Wind Symphony is the oldest fully professional concert band on Long Island,” according to the organization’s website. “Led by music director and conductor Joel Levy, the Atlantic Wind Symphony prides itself on only using Long Island musicians. Performing its annual subscription series at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, the Atlantic Winds also performs a summer pops in the parks series across metropolitan New York.”
Recently honored as one of Huntington High School’s Class of 2017 Distinguished Seniors, Mr. Labarge is headed to West Virginia University where he plans to pursue an academic major in flute performance. He was drawn to the school by the opportunity to work with well-known Professor Nina Assimakoupoulos.
The teenager attributes his success to the “amazing support” he’s received from Huntington’s music staff members. Teachers have been “enormously helpful” in developing his musicianship. Mr. Labarge said the most enjoyable moment of high school came when he realized his passion for music.
A member of Huntington’s wind ensemble and pit orchestra, Mr. Labarge’s talents are respected and admired by his fellow district musicians and the teachers he has worked with over the years.
