Blue Devils Attend Drum Major Academy

Preparations for the coming Blue Devil marching band competitive season continued unabated this summer. A contingent of band leaders spent a week on the campus of the Westfield State University in Massachusetts, participating in the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.

The nationwide summer academy is for high school drum majors and majorettes. It was founded in 1978 and is held at various locations around the United States. It draws over 3,000 participants annually.

The Huntington participants included Jack Semelsberger, Lily Wasoski, Kayla Murillo, Dana Saramago, Sam Soric, Natalie Parrott and Toni Reyes-Sorto.

Set to enter its 90th year, the Blue Devil band will be directed by Huntington High School music teacher Andre E. Rizzuto, who will be assisted by Patrick Neary and Mallory Martilla.

Over the course of a week the Huntington students learned about the fundamentals of marching band and becoming leaders. Each of them received personalized instruction and feedback as they went about practicing teaching and commanding their peers, both key components of a successful leader.

“Attending DMA this summer was such an honor for me and my fellow band leaders to experience,” Mr. Semelsberger said. “The week we were there flew by, as we were constantly busy learning and improving under the guides of marching band instructors with years of experience. What I learned at DMA is going to be valuable on and off the marching band. This experience has gotten me very excited for the upcoming marching band season this fall, and I can’t wait for everyone to see our show.”

The Blue Devil marching band has set a standard of excellence over the decades since its founding in 1934. It’s members have always worked hard at their craft.

“DMA was a very enlightening experience,” Ms. Wasoski said. “I learned a lot about what it takes to be a leader and I cannot wait to apply this knowledge not only to the marching band but also my daily life.”

This year’s Huntington band is similar to its predecessors. It always sets its sights on a state title and usually finishes among the top bands in New York at the state championships.

“DMA was incredible,” Ms. Murillo said. “I was taught the different qualities and skills I need to have as a leader from their amazing staff. My favorite part of the entire experience was growing connections with members from bands across the East Coast. I can’t wait to implement my knowledge from the program into the marching band this upcoming season.”

The Blue Devils will compete around the metropolitan area at various invitationals in the run-up to the state field band championships in Syracuse in late October.

“DMA was the experience of a lifetime,” Ms. Saramago said. “I learned so much from all the amazing staff and met so many amazing people. My biggest takeaway from the program was ‘The band is your mirror.’ The dedication, energy and determination that a leader puts forth will assist in pushing the band to further themselves in those aspects. DMA has truly been an inspiration and has really given me a greater understanding of what is to be a leader. I hope to take all that I have learned from DMA and introduce it to others in the band so they too can see all the benefits that the program has to offer.”

Ms. Wasoski, Mr. Semelsberger and Ms. Murillo will serve as the Blue Devils’ drum majors. It’s a group of incredibly talented teenagers.

“DMA was not what I expected, in the best way possible,” Mr. Soric said. “I walked into this camp unsure what made these three days so intensive, while also incredibly memorable, but these workshops entirely change your perspective, not just with leadership skills, but how to become a better individual to better yourself and everyone around you. The staff members are incredibly talented and people I will look up to, as well as use what they taught me in everyday life. DMA helped me prepare to become a future leader in my oncoming senior year.”

The band’s student leadership also includes flute section leaders Jayden Feliciano and Donna Lazo; clarinet section leaders Charlie Michaelian and Felicity George; alto sax section leader Abby Schueller; trumpet section leaders Megan Lewis and Jayden Hoff Isavelle; mellophone section leader Aidan Geller; pit section leaders Katherine Estrada and Sonia Acevedo; low brass/low woodwind section leader Eli Soric; battery section leader Ben Edgar-McNerney.

Ms. Saramago will serve as the brass captain with Mr. Soric as the woodwind captain. Diana Diaz Portillo, Deanna Elvir and Ms. Reyes-Sorto will be the color guard captains.

“Over the course of the time we spent at DMA, I gradually realized how lucky I was to be in marching band and how glad I was to be part of such a great group of people,” Ms. Parrott said. “DMA taught me that the sense of community in marching band doesn’t just apply to our single band, but it extends to everyone in marching band, whether they live in New York or anywhere else. We all worked together during DMA for the sole purpose of helping each other grow and become better leaders. I’m really glad that I was granted the opportunity to work with not just inspiring teachers, but talented musicians from several different states. The experience has truly made me so proud to be a part of the Huntington Blue Devil marching band and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to go to DMA and meet all the amazing people there. I’m so excited to see the difference we can make in our band by bringing our experiences and advice from DMA and implementing them in our band!”