Port Jefferson School District Hosts NYSSMA Music Festival

played host to the 2012 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Festival on Friday March 30 and Saturday March 31 where more than 2,000 music students from Suffolk County came to play and hone their talents.

It was a big undertaking for Michael Caravello. As director of Music and Fine Arts, he was the liaison for the district. Caravello had to organize the event including figuring out logistics for instruction and performances in classrooms across all three of the school’s buildings for thousands of musicians and helpers. He also trained more than 100 student and parent volunteers from Port Jefferson to assist with running the festival.

Port Jefferson was well represented by its music students on its home turf.

“Over 250 students from the Port Jefferson School District performed during the course of the festival weekend from grades Kindergarten through 12th grade on a woodwind, string, percussion or brass instrument, voice or piano,” Caravello said.

Port Jefferson School District is in one of NYSSMA’s Suffolk County subdivisions that also includes Sachem, Smithtown, Middle Country, , Three Village and all local private and parochial schools in the area. Every six-years one of the public schools hosts the festival and this was Port Jefferson’s year. 

The months of work organizing the festival seemed to be worth the tremendous effort.

“It is a truly rewarding feeling to know that your school district is helping to create a positive, memorable musical experience for over 2,000 music students from across Suffolk County,” Caravello said.