Six Huntington UFSD student musicians sparkled at the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s 14th annual Day of Horn last Friday at Northport.
The Huntington contingent included fifth grader Dana Saramago, seventh grader Aidan Geller, eighth graders Leigh Hepworth, Allison Malone and Jillian Panos and senior Katie Riley. 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 Amy Horn, a versatile performer with extensive solo and ensemble experience who was a 29 year member of the United States Marine Corps band known as The President’s Own. She also sang and played guitar in the USMC’s country rock ensemble Free Country for more than 20 years.
“This was my last year participating in SCMEA’s Day of Horn,” Ms. Riley said. “I was honored to be a member of the All-Star Student Ensemble and attended a master class with guest conductor, Amy Horn, retired hornist for The President’s Own U.S. Marine Band. Playing alongside someone of that caliber, who has also performed for five past presidents was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
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, which included hornists in grades 4-12 and teachers right alongside their students once against set the Guiness World Record while rocking the stage performing “Rock around the Clock” and “Uptown Funk.”
“A note of thanks to Mrs. Adams who encouraged me to attend my first Day of Horn when she was my teacher in fifth grade,” Ms. Riley said. “For the past eight years, I have enjoyed playing with hornists of varying levels of ability and I know that current student hornists will continue to represent the district with musical distinction.”
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.
