The saxophone quartet at W.T. Clarke High School were selected to perform in the fourth annual Long Island Regional Young Musicians Concert. The event was held on Feb. 11 at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post.

The foursome, made up of seniors Kira Gruber, Brendan Mark and Christopher Johnson, as well as junior Toby Sison, auditioned for the concert via a video recording and were thrilled at the announcement. “I’m so excited to be selected to perform,” said Kira. “We’ve been working on this piece together for about three years.”

The students have worked diligently, some since middle school, under the direction of music instructor David Fletcher. “It’s been a wonderful seven-year journey with these students, watching them grow as people and musicians,” Mr. Fletcher said.

The Young Musicians Concert is produced by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and provides an opportunity for advanced high school instrumentalists to perform in a professionally produced concert. The district commends these students on their dedication and hard work.

W.T. Clarke High School hosted the second annual East Meadow Children’s Concert on Feb. 9, welcoming more than 350 members of the community for the arts-focused event. The theme this year was “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Kindergarten students throughout the district are reading this book in their Enrichment Through the Arts classes.

The audience read along as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” was projected on a large screen above the stage. Frank Lukasik, director of literacy for the district, narrated the story while students from W.T. Clarke High School’s Drama Club dramatized the story and portrayed the characters live. Performances by the select chorale, wind ensemble and chamber orchestra were intertwined throughout the story. Children in the audience were invited to come up and sing folk songs along with the select chorale during a portion of the concert.

After the concert, the W.T. Clarke Middle School Junior Tri-M Music Honor Society held an instrument “petting zoo.” Children were able to visit brass, woodwind, percussion and string stations to familiarize themselves with the instruments. Additionally, select artwork from kindergarten students was also on display in the lobby.

Jessica Shenker, chairperson of music at W.T. Clarke Middle and High School organized the event. “Music has always been one of the pillars of our community, and through this concert, music is viewed as another form of literacy,” said Mrs. Shenker. “The goal of this concert is to inspire our entire community to be patrons of the arts, appreciators of music, and to encourage children to be involved in our music program as they continue through elementary, middle and high school.”

The district is proud of and congratulates all of the teachers and student musicians who made this event a tremendous success.

The East Meadow Board of Education recognized a new administrator and a student scholar at their meeting on Feb. 5.

Elizabeth Dowling was officially introduced to the board of education as a new assistant principal at East Meadow High School. Ms. Dowling has been an educator in the East Meadow School District for 18 years, teaching Spanish at both the middle and high school level. She previously served as chairperson of the English department at East Meadow High School.

Abishek Ravindran, a senior at W.T. Clarke High School, was recognized for being named one of the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020. The board of education presented him with a certificate of achievement for this prestigious accomplishment. W.T. Clarke High School Principal Timothy Voels and Abishek’s science research teacher, Erika Rotolo, were also in attendance to congratulate Abishek.

East Meadow High School seniors Ikshu S. Pandey and Brendan Wilkowski, and W.T. Clarke High School senior Emma G. Passariello, have been nominated as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The final Scholars will be announced in early May. Congratulations to Iskhu, Brendan and Emma on being nominated for the prestigious honor!