The Rocky Point School District is pleased to congratulate Rocky Point High School sophomore Jeremy Moriarty for his participation in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association “Day of Horn” Festival, held at Northport High School on Jan. 17. Jeremy is a member of the 9th/10th Grade Band under the direction of Mr. Vincent Ragona.
 
This was the 20th Annual SCMEA Day of Horn. This year’s festival featured guest artist Michael Stevens. Mr. Stevens joined the Rochester Philharmonic as principal horn in 2023. He has performed as guest principal horn with the San Francisco Symphony and the Auckland Philharmonia, and has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. Prior to joining the RPO, he was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  Mr. Stevens grew up in East Islip in a family of musicians. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.
 
The event included a clinic and recital presented by Mr. Stevens. It also including performances by The SCMEA All-County Horn Ensemble, The Northport Horn Club, The Faculty Suffolk Horn Club, a massed horn ensemble and various performances by students and educators from throughout Suffolk County. The SCMEA Day of Horn started as an outgrowth of the horn symposiums sponsored by the International Horn Society. In 2011, the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association successfully set a Guinness World Records record for "Largest Horn Ensemble" during their annual Day of Horn Festival. The record was set at 264 horns and is listed in the 2012 Guinness Book of World Records!
 
“SCMEA Day of Horn was a wonderful opportunity for Jeremy to once again experience,” Mr. Ragona said. “This year’s guest artist provided an educationally sound clinic and enriching experience for the students, and it is always a lot of fun to perform in the massed horn ensemble.”
 
Rocky Point Music Department Chairpersons Craig Knapp and Amy Schecher added, “Congratulations to Jeremy for his participation in the SCMEA Day of Horn Festival. Jeremy is a talented and dedicated young man, and we appreciate his involvement in the many extra opportunities the music program in Rocky Point offers. We applaud his dedication and accomplishments, and we are very proud of him. We would like to thank Mr. Ragona for helping to prepare Jeremy for this unique experience. Our music staff does a great job of going above and beyond to provide such incredible opportunities for our music students. We would also like to thank the Rocky Point administration and Board of Education for continuing to support these musical endeavors.”