Huntington Musicians Participate in Day of Horn

Three Huntington UFSD student musicians attended the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association 19th annual Day of Horn at Northport High School.

The Huntington delegation included Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School fifth grader Emily Hiscox and J. Taylor Finley Middle School seventh grader Brady Duke and eighth grader Bella Duke.

“Day of Horn is an indescribable experience; the best way to describe it is a great day to make new friends, play incredible music, and learn more about our very unique and special instrument,” Bella Duke said.

The Day of Horn culminated in a massed horn ensemble, including over 100 horn players rocking out to “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Rock Around the Clock.”

“Our students got to work alongside their peers from districts all over the county,” said Tara Adams, a Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School/Woodhull Intermediate School music teacher and French hornist who accompanied the group and also participated in the day’s events.

Attendees were treated to a performance and clinic from Dr. James Hampson, a freelance musician and expert in the history of the horn. He played on 11 different horns, spanning a 300 year history of development, in a fun-spirited and engaging presentation.

“Day of Horn is a fun experience,” Brady Duke said. “A great night where you get to hang out with your peers who play the same instrument as you, make new friends, and meet new people.”

Mrs. Adams performed at the event with the Suffolk Horn Club.  She has accompanied Huntington students to Day of Horn every year since its inception, including in 2016 when they entered the Guinness Book of World Records with a whopping 278 horn players performing.

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, and is a member of the Suffolk Horn Club. She has performed with the Northport Community Band for over 25 years. She has also played with Atlantic Wind Symphony, Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra, Long Island Symphonic Winds, the Huntington Community Band and as a piper with Northport Pipe & Drum.