Blue Devil Band’s Student Leadership is Spectacular

It’s been more than 90 years since the Huntington Blue Devil marching band was formed in the old high school building on Main Street, now used as Town Hall. The band is still going strong after coming off its annual multi-week summer training camp.

Andre Rizzuto, a high school music teacher is the band’s leader. A graduate of Brentwood High School, he received an undergraduate degree at Hofstra University in music education and then received a master’s in music performance from Five Towns College.

Mr. Rizzuto is an active performer on Long Island performing with the Northwind’s Community Band and Nassau-Suffolk Alumni Band. He also played with Huntington Community Band and Bay Shore Community Band.

This year’s Huntington Blue Devil marching band has spectacular student leadership. Cole Lima is the head drum major with Lily Buscemi and Jacob Boxer serving as the assistant drum majors.

The student leadership team also includes:

Flute section leader: Veda Gross

Clarinet: Emily McCarthy

Alto saxophone: David Cruz Ponce

Woodwind captain: Marylin Mendoza

Brass captain: Joey Herman

Trumpet/Mello section leader: Bella Duke

Low woodwind section leader: Nicolas Martinez (Bari sax, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone)

Color Guard captain: Keryi Gudiel

Drumline captain: Helena Sullivan

Pit section leader: Iliana Jarmolowski, Tulsi Singh

Band manager: Christopher Nunn

The band was organized in 1934 by high school music teacher James C. Doty, who attended Oberlin College in Ohio.

The Blue Devils have competitions scheduled for Sunday, September 20 (Brentwood), Sunday, September 27 (Copiague), Saturday, October 3 (Malverne), Sunday, October 4 (Roslyn), Sunday, October 11 (Arlington), Saturday, October 24 (Mineola), Sunday, October 25 (Huntington home show) and Sunday, October 31 (New York State Championships at JMA Arena in Syracuse).