By By Kirby Reed
Faculty, students and members of the University community banded together Friday night to raise money for the music program of a local school district in need.
The First Annual Benefit Concert to Support Music in Our Schools raised $1,700 for the Freeport School District Music Department.
This amount will supplement the more than $500 that was already raised.
The event, orchestrated by the student members of the University’s Collegiate Chapter of the Music Educator’s National Conference (CMENC), showcased the talents of the music department’s faculty.
“What better a way to give back to the music departments we grew up in, especially those that are in financial need, than to hold a benefit concert in their honor, with performers who have toured the country and some, the world, sharing their love for music,” said Christopher Cockren, CMENC president and senior education major.
The evening, which treated audience members to over two hours of music, ranged from upbeat piano numbers, to haunting ballads, to a comical opera titled “Duet for Two Cats,” in which professors Avalee Beckman and Tammy Hensrud dressed and acted like felines.
At the end of the concert, prizes were given out and refreshments were served.
Prizes included CMENC T-shirts, backpacks and gifts from the event’s sponsors, such as BIG APPLE Travel gift certificates.
Many music education students, who were not required to be there, attended the concert because of the importance they believe music provides in early education.
“We want more music students,” said Michael Melecio, a junior music education major. “We want music education to flourish, so we’re taking a stand and trying to make that happen.”
The night’s turnout raised hopes about the future of the benefit concert and similar programs.
“[The turnout] is wonderful, very impressive,” Cockren said. “Hopefully we’re going to make it annual. Each year we’re going to benefit a different school district of a low socioeconomic area.”
The chairman of the music department, Howard Cinnamon, was equally impressed by not only the attendance, but also with the music education majors.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” Cinnamon said. “They’ve demonstrated the dedication and the community awareness and the love of music that they want to share with their students that is very gratifying to me as a teacher. They’ve reminded me why we went into this business and they’ve inspired me to want to do my job even better.”
The Freeport School District was chosen, in part, due to its long-standing partnership with the University’s music education students, who share their passion for music by teaching lessons after school.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be the beneficiaries of the outpouring of talent and support for our school district’s music department,” said Charles A. Puricelli, the coordinator for the arts for the Freeport School District.
The most important issue of the night remained awareness.
Students and faculty stressed the importance of music education, while participating in community outreach.
“Music is an essential element in every human being’s life,” said Anthony Santanataso, CMENC treasurer and senior music education major. “For that reason it is important that everyone helps to strengthen the music programs in every Long Island school.”