The Huntington Blue Devil marching band is always striving for perfection. The group is comprised of serious musicians and an exquisitely talented color guard that enhances the field show presentation in a manner most other schools cannot match.
The Blue Devils are feeling almost invincible after a week long summer camp that brought the band together as one unit. The group rehearsed the music and field movements of this year’s show, “Headspace.” Last Sunday afternoon the band and color guard performed at a parent show at Blue Devil Stadium, which drew several district officials and a crowd of more than 200.
Nadeera Ali, Emma Hannigan and Isabella Lima have returned as the Blue Devils’ drum majors. Rachel Morina is back as field major.
Andre Rizzuto, a descendent of New York Yankee Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto is the new marching band co-director after being hired as a high school music teacher. Veteran band staff member Patrick Neary will serve as the band’s other co-director. While the band transitions to Messrs. Rizzuto and Neary, longtime director of new department coordinator Brian Stellato is still on the scene offering his expertise.
The band’s student leadership includes color guard captains David Chavez, Emely Cruz and Aislyn Franciscovich; brass captain Emma Glascock; woodwind captain Cecilia Kye; flute section leaders Donna Lazo and Kayla Murillo; clarinet section leaders Danielle Mendikyan and Erin Purcell; alto sax section leader Cecilia Kye; low windwind/brass section leader Yoanny Suarez; trumpet section leaders Emma Glascock and Liam Tucker; battery captain Jackson Danseglio and pit section leaders Sarah Corwin and Katherine Estrada.
“I think it was an extremely successful band camp,” Ms. Ali said. “The band accomplished so much and the new members should be very proud of themselves. Heading into the season, I am very positive it will be an amazing yar. Our band is very dedicated, passionate and talented. Our new staff is eager and skillful. I am very excited about working with the new staff, fellow drum and field majors and section leaders. I can’t wait for the season!”
The camp played out at the high school as fall sports teams practiced nearby. Drills and rehearsals often stretched into the night when portable lights helped illuminate the field area. This year’s band is comprised of about 100 enthusiastic teenagers.
The Blue Devils will march in a pair of parades this fall, perform at halftime of several home varsity football games and compete in a string of regional shows before trekking to Syracuse for the state championships.
Huntington High School music teacher James Cloyd Doty organized the first band in 1934. It was open to boys and girls in all four classes, according to the 1936 edition of The Huntingtonian, the high school yearbook. “Although newly organized, this group has worked very hard and with the cooperation of the student body, the band members have received blue and white uniforms,” states the yearbook. “They gave a new feeling of school spirit to all of the occasions at which they appeared this year.”
As it heads into its 89th year, the Blue Devil band is still going strong. The late summer camp has set the stage for what the musicians and color guard members hope will be a very special season.
Huntington will be competing at Brentwood, Copiague, Malverne, Arlington, Sachem, Huntington and Mineola in coming weeks. The Blue Devils are hosting their own show on Sunday, October 16. The state championships are set for Sunday, October 30 in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Everyone associated with this year’s band is taking their role seriously. The musicians and color guard are aiming to get as close to perfection as any high school band can. The professional and student leadership are in sync and collaborating on making this a season to remember.