Three Rocky Point High School students – sophomore John Nadeau and juniors Nick DeRosa and Justin Moriarty – participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s 44th Annual “Day of Tuba & Euphonium” Festival recently held at Westhampton Beach High School.  The students are members of Mr. Vincent Ragona’s 9th/10th Grade High School Band and Ms. Amy Schecher’s 11th/12th Grade High School Band.
 
This year’s festival featured guest artist and Hofstra University Tuba and Euphonium instructor Michael Salzman, a well-known and respected tubist and teacher in the New York metropolitan area, a former Principal Tubist of the Long Island Philharmonic and a founding member of the Cosmopolitan Brass Quintet. The event included a clinic presented by Professor Salzman, and performances by the Long Island Tuba Quartet, SCMEA All-County Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, SCMEA Faculty Ensemble, the Massed Tuba Ensemble, and pre-concert music by the Sunnyland Jazz Band!
 
Since 1980, this unique festival has grown from 74 low brass students to over 200 participants. This festival provided a great opportunity for tuba and euphonium students to experience playing their instruments in a unique setting, while allowing them to hear other performers at a variety of levels.
 
“OcTubafest” was conceived by Dr. Harvey Phillips, former professor of tuba at Indiana University in Bloomington. It was his idea to bring more recognition to euphonium and tuba players through public performances of tuba solo and ensemble music featuring college musicians in conjunction with professional artists. Howard Hovey was the first to implement this concept on the public school level. In 1975, Mr. Hovey organized the first SCMEA “OcTubafest” which was held at Copiague High School and featured Dr. Philips as the guest artist. Since then, SCMEA has hosted a tuba festival every year with the goal of providing an experience where multiple generations of low-brass enthusiasts can play together, learn from world-class artists, and celebrate their instruments. The festival honors the artists and teachers who brought the tuba legacy to Long Island, and who contributed in the making this annual event so worthwhile.
 
A congratulatory message from Rocky Point Music Department chairpersons Mr. Craig Knapp and Ms. Amy Schecher read: “We are very proud of the students who participated at the SCMEA Day of Tuba & Euphonium Festival. We are thankful for their hard work and dedication to the music program in Rocky Point. Their accomplishments are to be celebrated. We would also like to thank Mr. Ragona for preparing these talented students for this festival and for sharing the experience with them. We are grateful that the Rocky Point School District Administration and Board of Education continues to support these forms of musical learning experiences for the students and faculty members of the Rocky Point Music Department.”