Huntington Senior Performs with
All-State Jazz Ensemble
Some of the top young musicians in the state traveled to Albany to perform during Joseph R. Sugar Day festivities. The contingent included Huntington High School senior Mikah Feldman-Stein, who played in concert with the All-State instrumental jazz ensemble.
Mr. Stein is headed to Wesleyan University in the fall where he plans to be a pre-med major with a minor in jazz performance. He is a four-year member of the Huntington High School jazz ensemble and plays both clarinet and saxophone.
"Mikah has brought honor and distinction to our district's music program, Huntington High School and our community at large," Superintendent John J. Finello said. "He's such a talented young man. Folks enjoy listing to him in concert.
The performance by the All-State instrument jazz ensemble was held in the Empire State Plaza near the state capitol building. The day also saw New York State School Music Assn. members visiting state legislative offices to promote school music programs as part of "March is Music in Our Schools Month." In addition to the performance and office visits, the day included a reception and a luncheon.
Mr. Sugar, who passed away in 2009, was a man who wore many hats. At one time or another he served as president of both NYSSMA and the Nassau Music Educators Assn., worked as a professional trumpeter and string bass player, director of bands at Indiana University, public school teacher and band director at several high schools and professor of music at Long Island University's C.W. Post campus. He also served as NYSSMA's governmental relations chairperson