Seven Huntington UFSD student musicians shined at the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s 13th annual Day of Horn at Northport last Friday.
The Huntington contingent included fifth grader James Nottingham, sixth grader Aidan Geller, seventh graders Leigh Hepworth, Allison Malone and Jillian Panos, junior Katie Riley and senior Adina Kirkland. Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School/Woodhull Intermediate School music teacher and French hornist, Tara Adams accompanied the group and also participated in the day’s events.
This year’s guest artist was Julliard School of Music Professor Julie Landsman, who was the Metropolitan Opera’s principal horn for 25 years. She presented a clinic that included breathing techniques and buzzing exercises. A group of the professor’s Juilliard students were on hand to perform New York State School Music Association solos of different levels of difficulty for the edification of the day’s participants.
The day also featured performances by several large ensembles, including the Northport Horn Club, Suffolk Horn Club and Day of Horn Student All Star Ensemble. The legendary Day of Horn Massed Horn Ensemble performed “Can Can,” “Twist & Shout,” “Billie Jean” and “Ault Lang Syne.”
“This was my seventh year attending SCEMA’s Day of Horn,” Ms. Riley said. “As always, I enjoyed playing with hornists of varying levels of ability, but this year I was most impressed with the selection of music performed by guest artist, Julie Landsman and members of her Julliard School Horn Studio. They played solo and duet pieces of NYSSMA level 4, 5 and 6 selections. It was very relatable as I prepare for my own NYSSMA solo and an inspiration for all horn students in the audience. Certainly, a level of playing that one could aspire to achieve.”
Mrs. Adams has been teaching in Huntington since 1997. A graduate of Walt Whitman High School, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education and music performance at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music and obtained a Master of Music degree in music education at Ithaca College.
Mrs. Adams has worked with young students throughout Long Island as a guest conductor for both SCMEA and Nassau Music Educators Association All-County bands and as a certified NYSSMA brass adjudicator. She has presented professional workshops locally and at the state level.
Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Adams enjoys performing regularly with Hornucopia, a horn quartet. A member of the Suffolk Horn Club, she has performed with the Northport Community Band for over 20 years. She has also played with Atlantic Wind Symphony, Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra, Long Island Symphonic Winds and the Huntington Community Band. She is also a piper with Northport Pipe & Drum.
