Craig Knapp Immediate Past President/Program Manager ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Email: programmanager@scmea.org Craig B. Knapp is currently in his 13th year teaching General Music, Music Technology, Recorder/Orff Ensemble and Chorus, grades 3 through 5, at the Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School in the Rocky Point Public School District.
Mr. Knapp's 4th/5th grade students regularly participate in NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festivals as soloists/duets for voice, and his 4th/5th Grade Intermediate and 5th Grade Select Chorus ensembles have been performing annually at the NYSSMA Major Organization Evaluation Festival since Spring of 2003, where they have received consistent "Gold" or "Gold With Distinction" ratings. Mr. Knapp has had several students participate in ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) State, Regional and National Children's Honors Choirs and in the OAKE (Organization of American Kodály Educators) National Children’s Choir since 2004.
Craig Knapp was the first ever music educator to be selected as Dowling College/News 12 Long Island "Educator of the Month," in the 2005-2006 Academic Year.
Mr. Knapp is currently the Director of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York’s Children’s Treble Chorus. He has presented several elementary classroom music and choral workshops at various local and state conferences and has been a guest conductor for both the Nassau and Suffolk County Music Educators’ Associations.
Mr. Knapp is an active member of SCMEA (Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association), where he currently serves as President after serving a year as President-Elect and three years as Executive Vice President for All-County Festivals. He is the Administrative Program Coordinator for the Orff-Schulwerk Summer Studies at Hofstra University. Mr. Knapp is also actively involved with the NY/ACDA (New York Chapter of American Choral Directors Association), where he is currently the Repertoire & Standards Committee Chairperson for Children’s Choirs.
Additional Biographical Information on Mr. Knapp - Click Here
Craig Knapp
Patricia Isenberg President Elect ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Email: presidentelect@scmea.org Mrs. Isenberg is currently the High School Band Director at Miller Place High School, conducting the Symphonic Band and two jazz ensembles. She has been teaching in the district since 2005. Prior to teaching in Miller Place she was the music director in the Fire Island School District for several years. Mrs. Isenberg earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire. She earned her Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from SUNY Stony Brook. She is currently earning graduate credits from the University of LaVerne and Dowling College performing as a member of the Dowling Jazz Ensemble.
Mrs. Isenberg’s students are active participants in various SCMEA functions participating on a regular basis in the Day of Festivals as well as the All County ensembles. She has been an active participant in SCMEA serving as a band chairperson, Assistant to the Vice President Central Division and currently the Executive Co-VP for Festivals
Mrs. Isenberg is an active member of: MENC, NYSBDA, NYSSMA, and SCMEA
Patricia Isenberg
Chris Foti Executive Treasurer/Secretary SCMEA Past President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Email: treasurer@scmea.org Chris Foti has been the band director at Half Hollow Hills High School West for the past five years. Prior to that, he taught band in the Brentwood School District for nine years.
Chris received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Long Island University at C.W. Post, his Master of Science in Music Education Degree from Queens College, CUNY, and his Specialist Diploma in School Administration and Supervision from Queens College, CUNY.
He has chaired several All-County Festivals and has held various positions on the SCMEA Executive Board. He is looking forward to helping continue the commitment to Music Education that SCMEA has become so widely recognized for.
Chris currently resides in Commack with his wife and four children.
Shannon Hughes is currently entering her fourth year as a music teacher in the Brentwood School District. Since 2007, she has taught first grade, second grade and special education general music classes at Oak Park Elementary School. Ms. Hughes received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education Degree from Hofstra University in 2006 and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Degree from Stony Brook University. She is a current member of SCMEA, MENC and NYSSMA.
Shannon Hughes
Victoria Byrne Vice President for Classroom Music ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Victoria Byrne is currently in her 4th year of teaching as a Music Educator at North Elementary in the Brentwood School District. Mrs. Byrne is a graduate of C.W. Post/ Long Island University where she received a Bachelors of Music in Music Education with a concentration in Vocal Performance in 2005 and has completed a Masters Degree in Special Education in 2007. She has studied the Dalcroze Method with Dr. Robert Abramson at the Julliard School of Performing Arts, the Orff-Shulwerk Method at Hofstra University, and World Music Drumming will Will Schmid. As a past President of CMENC and a Chairperson for the SCMEA All-County Festivals, Mrs. Byrne will continue to provide the Music Educators of Suffolk County with professional development that can be used within their field of expertise.
Michael Baur West Division Festivals Assistant to the Vice President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Michael Baur
Amy Yamagishi Central Division Festivals Assistant to the Vice President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Amy Yamagishi
Kathryn Toolan East Division Festivals Assistant to the Vice President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Kathryn Toolan
Timothy Hogan Printed Program Manager SCMEA Past President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Timothy Hogan
Bill Troiano Howard Hovey Tuba Day Coordinator ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Bill Troiano received his Bachelor of Music Education (BM) degree from SUNY Fredonia in 1973 and a Master of Tuba Performance and Brass Literature (MM) degree from The Eastman School of Music in 1974.
Mr. Troiano has been a band director in the Connetquot School District since 1980. As a guest conductor, Mr. Troiano has conducted NMEA's All-County Elementary Band, and the North Fork Elementary Band. He also conducted a select tuba ensemble for the FX television network The group performed live on the station's national morning show, Breakfast Time.
Mr. Troiano has been the SCMEA TUBA DAY chairman since 1980. He is also an area coordinator for the New York City Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center and he has served as chairman of the tuba solo and ensemble section of the NYSSMA Contest Manual. In 1996, Indiana Press published an international reference book titled The Tuba Source Book. Mr. Troiano is the author of the chapter, Recommended Basic Repertoire For The High School Tuba Student.
As a tubist, Mr. Troiano has appeared as a guest soloist with various ensembles in the state. He was a member of the Guy Lombardo Orchestra from 1976-78 where he toured with the band, played New Years Eve shows at the Waldorf Astoria and played musicals at the Jones Beach Theater. Mr. Troiano also performed with Dr. Harvey Phillips, renowned tuba virtuoso, in Carnegie Hall and at the Mozart Festival in Vermont. He is currently a free-lance tubist who has played with almost every performing ensemble on Long Island, and he is the founding member of the Long Island Tuba Quartet.
Bill Troiano lives in Lake Grove with his wife, three children, a dog and two tubas.
Bill Troiano
Alan Orloff Day of Horn Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Alan Orloff began studying the horn at the Sunquam School, Half Hollow Hills Schools in 1959. He was accepted early decision to the Ithaca College School of Music, where he received his BS and NYS Teachers Certification, Music K-12. While a student at Ithaca College, he was a student of world renowned John Covert. He was honored to have played under the baton of Walter Beeler. Soon after graduation, he became the Administrative Assistant with Long Island’s renowned Orchestra Da Camera, helping produce over 1400 events during his 3 season tenure. After leaving the orchestra, he started what is now a 32 year career as a music teacher in the Commack Public Schools. He has performed with the Orchestra Da Camera, Suffolk Symphony, Great Neck Symphony, Massapequa Symphony, WICOS, Symphonic Band of Suffolk and the Huntington Community Band, where he serves as Principal 1st Horn.
Alan Orloff
Peter P. DeSalvo Day of Percussion Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Pete DeSalvo, a native Long Islander, has directed school concert and jazz bands as well as numerous other ensembles for over 20 years. Mr. DeSalvo is a well respected conductor, having worked with All-County and select concert and jazz bands in the Tri-state area. His performing groups have competed at the state, regional and national levels always receiving outstanding ratings.
He earned his Bachelor of Music (BM) from the Crane School of Music, State University College at Potsdam, New York under the watchful eye of Professor James Petercsak, and received his Masters of Science (MS) from C.W. Post College of Long Island University, Greenvale, New York. Pete also studied 5 years with his mentor/teacher, Henry Adler.
Mr. DeSalvo is an active member of the Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) having chaired several festivals and has adjudicated for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solo & ensemble festivals for over 18 years. Currently, besides his teaching duties as Diretor of Bands at Sayville HS, Mr. DeSalvo is the Cochairman for SCMEA's Day of Percussion.
Peter P. DeSalvo
Anthony M. Romeo II Day of Percussion Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Anthony M. Romeo II has been a professional percussionist and educator since 1991. He has written for and instructed high school drumlines at Lindenhurst, Levittown Division Avenue, Mineola, Seaford and Clark High School in Nevada, Las Vegas. His envolvement with the Drum Corp. relm includes the DCA Drum & Bugle Corp, “The New York Skyliners” and co-founder, instructor and arranger for the Long Island Indoor Marching Percussion Group “Rage”. He has performed in various orchestras, concerts and musicals throughout Long Island as well as being a private percussion instructor. He is presently a member of the “Stik Figures Percussion Ensemble,” a contemporary percussion ensemble which is based on Long Island, NY.
He received his B.S. in Music Education from Hofstra University, studying percussion with James Pirone and the “Hip Pickles” leader and founder, Chet Doboe. Other past instructors have included Phil Cimino and Anthony Ambrogio. At Hofstra he performed as a percussionist with the Hofstra University Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, various jazz combos and operatic productions.
Anthony M. Romeo II
Donna Basile Day of Recorder Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Donna Basile teaches classroom music grades 3-5 for the Harborfields School District. She is the recorder instructor for the Orff Schulwerk levels course at Hofstra University and is member of the Recorder Orchestra of New York.
Donna Basile
Cristen Salisbury PEAK Festival Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Email: peak@scmea.org
Cristen Salisbury
Andrew Giammalvo Jazz Day Co-Coordinator ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Andrew Giammalvo
Tom Manuel Jazz Day Co-Coordinator ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Tom Manuel (Trumpet) began his musical training at Boston Universities College of Fine Arts where he gained his B.A. in Music Education and Music Performance. A master’s degree in Jazz History would follow as well as an advanced diploma from Oral Roberts University in Theology.
Before returning to Long Island Manuel toured extensively fronting his own Big Band The Black Tie Affair Orchestra. BTAO has two Today Show appearances to their credit as well as several albums including: Flying Home (2001) Millenium Records, The Kansas City Suite (2005) Trotman Records, and, Artistry in Kenton (2009) Trotman Records. Members of BTAO have performed with most of the greatest musical organizations including the Basie, Ellington, James, Dorsey, and Kenton bands.
Manuel holds positions as the Director of Jazz Studies at The Stony Brook School as well as Director of Jazz Studies at Ward Melville High School. An active educator and performer, Manuel has collaborated with many of the leading figures in jazz including Teddy Charles, David Amram, Anita O’Day, Warren Vache, Joe Wilder and others. Recognized as an expert in the area of American vernacular dance (lindy hop) and its counterpart jazz, Manuel also holds an active presence in the lecture circuit at many national conferences, colleges and universities.
Tom Manuel
Ron Fox Instrumental Jazz Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Ron Fox is the Band Director at East Islip High School. His duties include Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble. He is the lead trumpet of the Funk Filharmonik and has performed as lead trumpet with Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Frankie Valli, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Spinners, and The Drifters. Ron is currently performing shows, big band and studio work in the NY Metropolitan area.
Ron has a B.M. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Miami, Florida and a M.S. in Secondary Education from Dowling College, Oakdale NY.
Ron Fox
Frank Hansen Instrumental Jazz Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Extensive recordings, tours and performances with the following:
Tony Bennett, Diane Krall, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Benny Carter, Art Blakey, Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Ray Brown, Yo-Yo Ma, Andre Previn, James Taylor and many others. Broadway Shows Aint Misbehavin, Jelly's Last Jam, Annie Get Your Gun and Rent. Extensive recordings for movie, TV and radio. Undergraduate work at Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory. Graduate work at Queens College. Professor at Berklee College of Music, Queens College, and Suffolk Community College. Music Teacher at Commack H.S.
Frank Hansen
Richard Harris Vocal Jazz Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Rich Harris Jr. is currently teaching at Islip High School, where he serves as the Director of Vocal Jazz, Choral Activities, and the Music Theory program. He is the front man and plays piano in the OMNIPOP talent agency for the band HI-DEF. In addition, he is the vocalist for an acoustic act VIEWPOINT. During the early part of his career, he has worked extensively as a performer and educator while undertaking a Bachelors degree in Music Education, a Masters degree in Music History, and currently is finishing up a Doctoral degree in Music History. Past accomplishments include being selected to the national touring companies of RENT and MOVIN’ OUT as well as working on an MTV pilot show. Rich has worked with such stars as Mandy Moore, and Sheryl Crow. Visit Rich’s webpage at www.richharrisjr.com
Richard Harris
Jeffrey Hoffman Vocal Jazz Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Bernie Jones Newsletter Editor and Professional Development Chairperson SCMEA Past President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Bernie Jones
Dana Warren Choral Librarian Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Dana Warren holds degrees in music from Ithaca College and the University of Maryland at College Park. After teaching elementary, middle, and high school choral music in New York, Maryland, and Virginia, he is very happy to be co-directing the choruses and teaching classroom music at East Northport Middle School in the Northport-East Northport School District. He is also a NYSSMA Voice Adjudicator and a member of the Old Bethpage Village Restoration Singers. Additionally, he has served as rehearsal and performance accompanist for various soloists, choirs and theater groups throughout the area. He has previously directed the High School All-County Women’s Chorus in Chemung County, NY.
Dana Warren
Marie Michalopoulos Choral Librarian Co-Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Email: ChorusLib@scmea.org Marie has been directing the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth-grade choruses and the Chorale, as well as teaching musical theater and classroom music at East Northport Middle School since 1993. In the past she has directed the musicals and variety shows in the Northport Schools. She has also taught Music Appreciation and voice lessons at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland. Marie has sung with Regional opera companies such as the Northern Virginia Opera Theater, Ithaca Opera Association and Annapolis Opera. In addition, she has appeared as a soloist with The Thomas Circle Singers, Maryland Chorus, and the Northport Community Band. Marie is currently singing with the Old Bethpage Restoration Singers. Her choruses actively participate in NYSSMA major festivals and she is a vocal NYSSMA adjudicator.
Marie Michalopoulos
Michael Cordaro Band Librarian ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Michael Cordaro received his Bachelor of Music (B.M. 1988) and his Masters of Music (M.M.1992) in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. He is the Director of the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Pit Orchestra, and Sound and Light Crew for the William Floyd School District in Mastic Beach, NY.
Mr. Cordaro is a Tuba/Low Brass Specialist and performs regularly for the Atlantic Wind Symphony and the Sound Symphony on Long Island and is also a member of the Norwood Brass Firemen, a Dixieland brass group located in Northern New York.
Michael is an active member of NYSSMA, SCMEA, and NYSBDA. He currently serves as VP/Secretary for the NYSBDA Long Island Committee and assists Bill Troiano with SCMEA Tuba Day.
In addition to the website, Michael can be reached at William Floyd H.S. during normal school hours (7:00 am – 4:00 pm) for all band library questions or requests. The number is 874-1892.
Michael Cordaro
Amy Mason Sckipp Orchestra Librarian ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Amy Mason Sckipp conducts the Ninth and Tenth Grade Concert Orchestra at William Floyd High School. Orchestras under her direction have received the highest recognition from NYSSMA, the "Gold with Distinction" award, and have also earned several Superior ratings in regional competitions. Mrs. Sckipp has been honored to serve as guest conductor of Suffolk County festival orchestras.
Mrs. Sckipp graduated from the University of South Carolina where she received the prestigious Peabody Award for Education. As a member of the highly acclaimed USC String Project, she worked closely with pedagogues Ms. Pam Tellejohn-Hayes and Dr. Robert Jesselson. She received her Masters Degree from SUNY Stony Brook. Mrs. Sckipp is currently a student at Columbia University's Teachers College and continues to perform on the violin.
Amy Mason Sckipp
James Haefele NYSSMA Zone 14 Representative SCMEA Past President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
James Haefele
Paul Weber Commercial Membership ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Paul Weber
Kelly Good Membership Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Kelly Good
Matthew Hurst Directory Chairperson ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Matthew Hurst
Paul Infante Government Relations Coalition & Music In Our Schools Month SCMEA Past President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Paul R. Infante is an active member of SCMEA, serving as President, Vice-President for Festivals as well as handling his present responsibility with SCMEA as Government Relations chairperson. Paul is presently the Director of Fine and Applied Arts for the Commack Public Schools.
Paul Infante
Michael Mastrangelo Government Relations Coalition & Music In Our Schools Month
Dr. Joel Ratner Parliamentarian SCMEA Past President ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Joel Ratner has served as President, President-Elect and Executive Secretary-Treasurer of SCMEA over the last several years. He is currently the District Coordinator of Music for the Brentwood Public Schools. Previous to his administrative role, Joel's many years of teaching included working with students in grades 1-12 in band, orchestra, choir and general music classes.
While remaining active as a trumpeter and composer/arranger, he greatly enjoys his role as Dad to Leslie and Eric and husband to his violist wife, Jody.
Dr. Joel Ratner
David Kaufman Public Relations and Historian ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ David A. Kaufman has been teaching for the West Islip Public Schools for seven years as a High School Band Director and Music Theory Instructor. David received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from the prestigious Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1998. His studies there included a performance concentration in trumpet under Dr. John Ellis. He spent a semester abroad at the University of Central England’s Birmingham Conservatoire where he studied trumpet under the Birmingham Symphony’s principal trumpet player John Holland. Following his undergraduate studies, David received his Master of Arts Degree in Wind Conducting from Hofstra University under the direction of Dr. Peter Boonshaft. While at Hofstra, David had the opportunity to work with several noted composers of educational band music, such as James Swearingen, W. Francis McBeth, David Shaffer, David Holsinger, and Carl Strommen, among others.
Philip K. Voigt Webmaster ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Phil Voigt received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca College as a vocalist. He also received a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School District Administration from SUNY Stony Brook. Mr. Voigt is currently the Director of Instructional Technology for the Central Islip School District. In addition to his Central Islip responsibilities, Mr. Voigt also serves SCMEA as the webmaster. A graduate of the Kings Park school district, Mr. Voigt once played the role of a student in many SCMEA Festivals, and the Day of Tuba was always his favorite! While music education and performing are always his true passion, Mr. Voigt has developed his reputation as the “SCMEA Techie” always there to help integrate Suffolk Music needs into the technical world of today.
Executive Board Members 2009-2010