By:Laura Lane
They come to play music, to conquer a challenge and express the passion they feel with fellow students who understand their obsession. Members are the best student musicians in Nassau and Suffolk counties, all with a common goal -- to perform at the highest level possible.
And among their ranks are a handful of students from Bellmore and Merrick.
Some 400 seventh- through 12-graders audition each June to become members of the five performing groups in Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts, a non-profit group devoted to promoting musicianship among young adults. Some have come from as far away as South Hampton.
"The organization was founded in order to provide talented student musicians from across Long Island and the metropolitan area with additional rehearsal and performance opportunities in the jazz and concert genres," said co-founder and Executive Director Abby Behr. "We are committed to offering our members a high-quality educational and performance-based program that will provide enriching experiences and memories that will foster a lifetime love of music."
Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts, which was founded 10 years ago, rehearses every Saturday morning at East Meadow High School. Customarily, the five groups perform at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts and C. W. Post College. One group, the wind symphony, also performed at the Music Educators' 57th National Biennial Conference in Washington, D.C. It was one of only 27 performing groups chosen from across the country for this honor.
Additionally, this will be the second summer that a select group of Nassau-Suffolk students and alumni will travel to Hawaii to take part in a summer concert tour, which is an educational and cultural exchange.
But what about those early Saturday morning rehearsals, are they really worth it?
"The kids in the band are more dedicated than I've ever seen and serious about playing, which is not something I find that often," said Merrick trumpet player Steven Daniels, 15. "It's definitely worth it to get up so early. I'm definitely improving as a trumpet player."
The opportunities are abundant. Members of Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts receive instruction and coaching from numerous music educators, active performers and composers.
This year, co-principal trumpet player Philip Smith and principal trombonist Joseph Alessi from the New York Philharmonic will perform solos with the wind symphony. They will also play a duet, written expressly for them to be performed with the Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts. Both Smith and Alessi have spent several Saturday mornings rehearsing with the wind symphony.
"They are an excellent group. I played with the U.S. Military Academy band over the summer and the kids from the Nassau-Suffolk group are playing just as well," said Alessi. "Their style, intonation, musicianship and rhythm are all there. I don't play with too many high school bands, but this is one of the finest I've ever heard. The community should come out and hear them."
Joel Levy, conductor for the wind symphony and co-founder of Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts, said the students improve after playing with the pros.
"These kids are focused and smart. They are the greatest kids in the world who play from their heart with passion," said Levy. "If they aren't going to music school, they are going to law or medical school. I play on Broadway [for "Thoroughly Modern Millie"], and these kids rehearse like professionals."
Members of the Nassau-Suffolk jazz band always place in the All-State jazz ensemble, a highly competitive group of young musicians. This year eight kids have been selected, and there are only 15 slots.
"It never ceases to amaze me how many of these kids go into music. I think being in Nassau-Suffolk leads them there," said Bill Katz, conductor for Nassau-Suffolk's jazz ensemble. "Every year kids audition for the Grammy Awards band, and each year one or two of our members play in it."
During a rehearsal break, several concert band players linger in the hallways to listen to Joe Alessi play with the wind symphony. Bellmore flutist Kimberly Goodman listens too. She says Nassau-Suffolk provides her with a musical experience that she can't get elsewhere.
"When you perform at the concert, there's this amazing feeling," said Goodman. "Not only has my playing improved, but I think music has improved my math, science and reading abilities too."
For more information about Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts, call (516) 536-2412.
