Holiday Show Series Begins at High School

Commack High School's winter concert and art show series began on Wednesday with art projects of students presented along with several different concerts presented by the orchestra students. 

The  Sophomore Concert Orchestra group, directed by Karen Dow, opened the event, with students combining their talents to perform three pieces, ending with Winter Wonderland. 

The Sophomore Concert Choir followed shortly after with a performance of four compositions rooted in cultural influence from Spain, Africa and America. The choir, consisting of fifty-six sophomores, was directed by Wendy Frankonis and accompanied by Deborah Penn and  Jeff Ball. 

Musical festivities came to a close with the Sophomore Concert Band, directed by Stacey Franzke. Eighty-three students, playing an assortment of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments, performed three pieces telling stories of cowboys, Autumn and escaped convicts.

Artwork from students was showcased in the CHS Art Gallery as well as in the main lobby. Works included water color paintings, sculptures, 3-D paper airplane designs and photography.

During the course of the event, a presentation was set up in the main lobby advertising Commack Encore, the music booster club of CHS. With over seven hundred students in various ensembles, the organization serves to assist music education through fundraising techniques.

President, Kate Fruehsamer, said, "In our fourth year running, we strive to continue celebrating music in the Commack community. Through fundraising we are able to provide four scholarships of five hundred dollars a piece to graduating seniors. We also use the funds to provide needed supplies to the Marching Band and the Music Department and throw a dinner dance for students at the end of the year."

Teri Williams, one of the founders of Encore,  stressed the importance of membership and said, "we have extremely talented students and Encore allows for this  to be further recognized beyond what the school district has already provided."

The talent at CHS is outstanding with a history of honors. Fourteen instrumental and vocal musicians were selected to participate in the 2010 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Winter Conference. Thirty-six students from CHS were also selected this year by the New York State council of Administrators of Music Education-Suffolk County Music Educators' Association (N.Y.S.C.A.M.E./Suffolk) and the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association (S.C.M.E.A.) to participate in their annual High School All-County Festival. 

Director of Fine and Applied Arts,  Paul R. Infante, gives recognition to the professionals at the CHS Music Department and students for all of their dedication and accomplishments.

"Despite budget cuts, the arts have continued to thrive tremendously" Infante said.

"I am extremely proud of the administration and community for maintaining the integrity of all the wonderful programs that Commack High School has to offer."

Students continue to strengthen as muscians and hone their skills through various programs offered at CHS as well as putting in the time to practice their instruments.

"I recommend that everyone put in at least one hour  of practice a day and they can spread out the time so that the importance of family life and school work can be balanced into the equation" Infante said. 

Infante also stressed what the arts program has to offer to the Commack community.

"It creates the opportunity individuals to come and view professional concerts free of charge to the public. I encourage the community to see and hear such a vibrant cultured program," he said. 

"Arts in general provide students with an opportunity to express themselves in an authentic setting" Infante said, "Kids learn by doing and the arts provide the outlet for this to be put into practice."