Huntington High School’s junior and senior symphonic bands will perform in concert on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
The two bands include many of Long Island’s most spectacular young musicians. Brian Stellato will direct the junior band while his faculty counterpart Jason Giachetti will lead the senior band.
“This year’s mid-winter band concert at the high school looks to warm the spirits and delight the ears of audience members of all ages,” said Eric Reynolds, district director of fine and performing arts. “In looking at the programming Mr. Stellato and Mr. Giachetti chose, Wednesday evening’s performance is truly a family night out.”
The concert is free and open to the general public. “Musical selections from Moana and Star Trek will leave the students singing as they exit the auditorium and pieces including Joy Revisited, Whiplash, and Xerxes will please individuals from the band repertoire connoisseur to the novice concertgoer,” Mr. Reynolds said. “Come join us and bring your loved ones, family members and kids of all ages. It will be a wonderful way to spend Valentine’s Day!”
Brian Stellato
Mr. Stellato is in his 15th year as a music teacher. A Sachem High School graduate, he earned an undergraduate degree in music education with a concentration in instrumental music at University of Delaware.
A three-year drum major with the University of Delaware’s Fightin’ Blue Hen marching band, Mr. Stellato went on to obtain a master’s degree at Stony Brook University. His first teaching position was at Southampton High School in 2003/04. He taught elementary band in the Sachem school district for three years before coming to Huntington in October 2007.
At one time or another, Mr. Stellato has been the marching band’s director, co-director and assistant director. He is the director of the high school’s junior symphonic band, wind ensemble and the pit orchestra for the spring musical.
Co-faculty advisor for Huntington’s Tri-M music honor society, Mr. Stellato also serves as director of SCOPE’s SCALE summer arts enrichment program, which is held daily throughout July at the high school. He has been active staff member of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, a summer workshop held across the county that provides instruction in conducting, teaching techniques, communication skills and leadership.
Mr. Stellato is currently pursuing an advanced graduate certificate in educational leadership and administration at Stony Brook University.
Jason Giachetti
Mr. Giachetti has been a Huntington music teacher since September 2000. A graduate of Massapequa High School, he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music and Hofstra University and is currently pursuing a doctorate of musical arts in percussion performance at Five Towns College.
A former director of the Huntington Blue Devil marching band, Mr. Giachetti currently serves as its percussion arranger. He teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory and directs the high school jazz ensemble and senior symphonic band.
Mr. Giachetti has guest conducted the Suffolk County Music Educators Assn. Division 2 and Division 3 All-County bands. He currently serves as the co-chair for theSCMEA’s Day of Percussion. An active clinician, he has presented clinics at the New York State Music Educator’s winter conferences, the NYSCAME/SCMEA symposium, the Society of Ethics in Education symposium, Crane School of Music and Five Towns College.
