The 36th Annual Long Island Catholic School Honor Band Concert, presented by Paul Effman Music Service, took place last weekend at St. Anthony’s High School auditorium, offering two great shows to accommodate concertgoers. The show featured standout musicians from 42 (of 43) Catholic elementary schools from the Diocese of Rockville Centre and two other private or religious schools from Long Island. (Buckley Country Day and Emanuel Lutheran).
Attendees were treated to music from the Effman All Star Jazz Band prior to the start of the concert, and a half-dozen of the LI-based teachers to the schools were recognized for 20 or more years of service to the schools during the concert introduction.
Both sets of the show played to a packed house of proud parents, family members and principals who came to see their students perform. The concert is a unique opportunity for the students because the participating musicians get to rehearse and perform with other practiced and polished musicians from other schools in a full band of more than 200 musicians.
The show opened with the Jr. Honor Band, younger students who have been playing together for at least two years, prior to taking the stage with the Honor Band.
The concert was directed by Allan Fisher with help from Associate Directors Carolyn Behr, Joseph Licata, James Spera and Florence Stadtlander.
Musical selections included highlights from Carmen, the play Wicked and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Phantom of the Opera, among others.
—Submitted by the Diocese of Rockville Centre
