The year is drawing to a close and the Floral Park Music Department is going out with a bang.
On Saturday May 21, the Senior High Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra competed at an event called Music in the Parks. The competition was held at Monroe Township High School in New Jersey for performing groups such as choruses, bands, and orchestras. However, the award ceremony was held at Six Flags Great Adventure where the orchestra was awarded first place for overall high school orchestras and first place for high school Division 1.
The chamber orchestra also won first place for best chamber orchestra.
When asked about the three wins, Dr. Pinto humbly proclaimed, “You should be asking the students. Not me. They’re the ones who did it. I just waved my baton. They made it happen.” Dr. Pinto is Floral Park’s 2011-12 Teacher of the Year.
Junior Thomas Hagan said, “It was an extremely fun experience! Being our first competition since I’ve been in orchestra, it was really different. Our orchestra was always the dark horse waiting for its chance to shine but it feels great to bring home three first-place trophies.”
On Wednesday May 25, three hours before their spring concert, the Senior High Chorus performed at the NYSSMA Major Organization Evaluation Festival on Level 6, which is the highest level and received gold!
Director Steven Altinel announced their ranking at the spring concert. The whole audience burst into thunderous applause, and the choir received a standing ovation. The usually disciplined choir erupted into cheers and shrieks.
“They are the best choir I’ve ever had at this school and their work has definitely paid off,” said Mr. Altinel.
Freshman Rachel Lumetta later commented, “It was really cool and exciting to be a part of such a mature sound at this young age. I know I’m going to have such great opportunities in the next three years of chorus.”
Vice President and senior Jihan Killikelly said, “It was an added experience to performing at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. We’d never performed at NYSSMA before as a whole choir and it made me even prouder to be a part of it. Going in, I really had no expectations, so achieving this honor really means a lot. It’s also sort of bittersweet because I’m one of four seniors who stayed in chorus since seventh grade and to think we made it out alive is really something.”
Whether it was a wonderful close to four years of music or a new beginning, these past few months will definitely leave an imprint on all of these young musicians.
Chairperson Lisa Kolb said, “I could not be prouder of these kids and their directors. They are all hardworking. None of this would have been possible without teamwork. I respect the cohesiveness that is achieved between the students and their directors. It will be exciting to see what they accomplish in their future endeavors.”
