Blue Devil Band Celebrates at Banquet
The Huntington High School Blue Devil marching band celebrated another good year with a banquet at the Huntington Fire Department. The affair honored band members and parent volunteers as the torch was formally passed from the graduating seniors to the band's new student leadership.
A crowd of about 150 band members and parents attended the banquet, which included a presentation of a variety of awards. It was catered by Lighthouse Caterers. The menu included mixed green salad with raspberry vinaigrette, penne ala vodka with grated cheese, chicken fingers served with honey mustard and sweet and sour sauce, grilled vegetables with a reduced balsamic dressing, seasoned roasted red potatoes and assorted breads with butter. There was also a sheet cake inscribed with musical notes and congratulations for seniors.
"The banquet went well," said Dee Antonucci, who coordinated the affair. During the celebration, the leadership baton was formally passed to 2012/13 drum majors Laura Ironman, Brian McConnell and Jonathan Wood and field major Francesca Gray.
The band's new section leaders were also announced. The group includes Giselle Aparacio (woodwind captain and tenor sax leader), Matthew Beeby (brass captain), Shannon Smith (drum captain), Monica Casabona and Alexandra Reinertsen (color guard captains), Kevin Solomowitz and Alexandra Grabowski (flute section leaders), Francesca Gray and Joellen Ceide (clarinet section leaders), Justin Cook (alto sax leader), Josh Solomowitz and Anna Wertheim (trumpet leaders), Matthew Rosenbauer (mellophone leader), Matthew Beeby and Michael Stafford (low brass leaders) and Nina Flores (front ensemble leader).
During the banquet, Blue Devil band members received participation certificates for their respective ensembles. The evening was enhanced by a "wonderful video montage created by Rob Goldman that celebrated the band's past year and performances," Mrs. Antonucci said.
The Band Parent Association of Huntington's 2012/13 executive board will consist of co-Presidents Dee Antonucci and Jennifer Dawson, Vice President Lisa Hansen, Treasurer Karen Pashkin, Recording Secretary Claudia Beeby and Corresponding Secretary Maria Zimmerman. Co-head roadies will be Guy Boyce and Jennifer Schmelter. Janet Maiorello will serve as head chaperone and list keeper.
Anne Harmon and Maria Zimmerman will head fundraising efforts. Carol Goldman will take care of building use forms. Regina Bacik and Peg Reinertsen will be the color guard liaisons. Maria "Granny" Noon will again serve as uniform mistress. Maureen Malone will be the merchandise coordinator.
BPA members-at-large will be Phil Antonucci, Ginny Boyce, Anne Harmon, Martha Ironman, Vincent Petrozzo, Michael Rosenbauer, Kathy Solomowitz, Meredith Spector, Amy Stafford and Barbara Yanuck.