By Rachel Kalina
"It's an incredible achievement," Messina said. "We've been able to build up an incredible band in such a small district."
Messina set about changing the high school's music scene when he began teaching in Malverne. Along with other teachers, staff and parents, he founded and built the marching band, and has helped it evolve to its status of best in state.
The band's dedicated musicians start practicing in the middle of August. Throughout the year, they practice from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays as well as on Saturday afternoons. Messina welcomes all students who are interested in marching in the band. They practice in their uniforms every week in September and October, decked out in white outfits with a broad, blue-and-red stripe and distinctive black shako hats.
"We were able to work a little bit harder in the final few weeks of the season," Messina said of this year's success. "The students just really achieved on a level we had never achieved on before."
In November, the Malverne Board of Trustees paid tribute to the band¹s achievements. Mayor Anthony Panzarella awarded the group certificate of recognition. Messina shared the spotlight with his student captains, who held aloft the enormous trophy the school will keep for the next year. District administrators, meanwhile, thanked residents of the village.
"Without their support, things like this simply do not happen," said Superintendent Mary Ellen Freeley. "Thank you for supporting us and supporting our students."
The New York State Field Band Conference has been held at Syracuse University¹s Carrier Dome since 1972. Malverne's band, comprising 102 students in grades 9 through 12, went up against 11 other schools in its Small School 3 Division.
This was the fourth time the band competed in the weekend-long conference, for which it prepared a 13-minute show. The band has placed second in past years.
Messina compared the performance to Broadway shows. "I'm trying to dispel the stereotypes of what marching band is," he said. "This [performance] is a different king of thing."
At the conference, each band must set up, perform and get off the field in the allotted time. The show¹s plot line was based on the play "Miss Saigon." Color guard members wore colorful kimonos, and the drumline dressed as American soldiers. They even put down their instruments for to perform a slow dance.
Messina explained that Amy Herman, the color guard director, coordinated many of the dance moves for the flag holders. He was happy with his students' achievement, he said. "This is the first time in the history of the school that we won it."
Comments about this story? RKalina@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
