66.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Hitting all the right notes
Valley Stream Community Band features diverse group of musicians
Tuesdays in the summer are a special time for many Valley Stream residents and have been for quite some time (and it’s not only because the next Monday is six days away). On Tuesday evenings in July and August, the Valley Stream Community Band hits the stage at the John M. Smith Bandshell at the Village Green and gives people professional-level entertainment in their own backyard.
The Community Band is in the midst of its 61st season and features people of all ages, experience levels and backgrounds. The band is co-sponsored by the Central High School District Board of Education and the Village Board of Trustees, and rehearses in the Keller Auditorium at Central High School.
It’s there that Todd Holly, the Central High School District’s coordinator of fine and performing arts and the band’s conductor since 2008, works with the more than 65 musicians on the pieces they will be performing at the next show.
As band members prepared for an upcoming show, a few spoke about their experiences with the band and what they’re expecting this summer.
Marc Trager
Age: 58
Lives in: Valley Stream
Instrument: Clarinet
Years in Community Band: 15
How did you get involved?: I played clarinet in high school, then my son started playing in high school so I started playing again. I joined the Nassau Community College Band and then got a suggestion to play in this band.
Favorite song to play: Broadway tunes — Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables
Looking forward to this summer: Playing Broadway tunes.
Todd Holly
Age: 46
Lives in: Dix Hills
Instrument: Conductor
Years in Community Band: 24
How did you get involved?: Started teaching in the Central High School District in 1989.
Favorite song to play: William Tell Overture
Looking forward to this summer: Working with the many past members and a lot of our new people that have joined this year.
