On Saturday, Oct. 9, Hampton Stadium was the site of the New York State Field Bank Conference Marching Band Competition, part of the Long Island-based championship competitions for marching bands. As the host school, Mineola performed last but one could say the best was saved for last. The Mustangs Marching Band received the highest score out of the 12 schools that competed in the Parade of Champions.

Out of the 12 schools competing, Mineola was the only one in its class (Small School II). However, the Mustangs managed the high score of 84.70. The next highest was Sachem at 83:50.

Mineola School District Director of Fine Arts Rob Ratner expressed his pride at the Marching Band and the staff, saying the performance was "awesome."

The Mineola Marching Band performed La Nouba from Cirque Du Soleil. Included in the repertoire is Distorted, Reve Rouge, A La Lune and Urban.

Mineola has been performing so well, the Mustangs have fluctuated between being ranked first and second in its class in the entire state since the competition began.

Mr. Ratner thanked the staff, the administration, the parents and Mayor Jack M. Martins and the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees for making the Oct. 9 event a success.

Not to be forgotten are the Mineola music parents. "The Music Parents are a tremendous force behind helping us to achieve our musical and performance goals. Their involvement is a model for their students," said Mr. Ratner, who also believes the Marching Band is a model for the community coming together in support of its students.

During the Oct. 9 performance, the community came together at Hampton Stadium in support of the Mustang Marching Band. There is nothing like hosting a competition in front of an audience that is cheering you on and Mineola made the best of it. "It's such a thrill. The staff was very happy and pleased with the students performance and the audience cheered us on. They really enjoyed the performance as well," Mr. Ratner said.

Those who attended appreciated the talent and the hard work that went into the performance. "Harold Watson and Rob Ratner did a phenomenal job with the marching band. All the kids did an absolutely beautiful job," said Mineola Deputy Mayor Larry Werther.

On Oct. 24, the Mineola Mustangs Marching Band will be competing in the Carrier Dome against eight other bands from New York State at the New York State Field Band Conference Championships.

Congratulations to the Mineola Marching Band:

Drum Major

Jessica Petraglia

Drum Major

Jessica Rowan

Alto Sax

Drew Barnett

Mary Deas

Michael Diglio

Peter Diglio

Michelle Guelbart

Amanda Helmich

Carmine Sarno

Christopher Valente

Zachary Wolf

Baritone

Brian Abrams

Matthew Belleza

Davesh Dharia

Steven Goncalves

Michael Granath

Greg Klein

Robert Kruse

Mark Levy

Alexander Lopes

Christopher Lopes

Eduardo Martins

Matthew Ponte

Frank Thomas

Nicholas Tonini

Tenor Sax

Bryan Carlin

Andrew Leno

Filipe Rodrigues

Daniel Vezo

Trumpet

Anthony Allegra

Tom Badinger

Vincent Campanale

Philip Carvalho

Michael Donnelly

Madeline Leno

Rob Levy

John-Paul Macedo

Frank Mortillo

Dan Natale

Robert Olszewski

Timothy Palma

Nicholas Pontolillo

Michael Purdy

Kenny Rauert

Owen Reill

Audrey Rome

Paul Tapias

Michael Voege

Maxwell Wolf

Flute

Stephanie Badger

Laura Darmstadt

Lynn Franciotti

Katherine Homza

Annemarie Kowalczyk

Christina Losquadro

Melissa Makowski

Katie Mortensen

Ashly Volino

Clarinet

Veronica Baierwalter

Kristen Brown

Emily Citro

Daniel Doughtery

Jenelle Fiori

Alyssa Glenn

Kristina Kruse

Grace Martorella

Lauren Massa

Roseanne Mercurio

Kelly Munson

Eric O'Brien

Peri Rachell

Nicole Reardon

Danielle Riccardi

Rachel Sherman

Jackie Wladyka

Horn

Melissa Beck

Elizabeth Burton

John Carnabuci

Melissa Fusco

Trisha Hahn

Lauren Napolitano

Alyssa Polumbo

Anthony Ricciardi

Chelsea Rosner

Jill Shanahan

Laura Willis

Julia Yan

Tuba

Liz Bartscherer

John Chau

Thomas Falis

Rob Maloney

Lucas Natal

Dan Siraco

Matthew Voulo

John Henry Williams

Drumline

John Aven

Kristina Aven

Danny Benbow

Bethany Brown

Stephanie Calabro

Matt Dadich

Jessica Donahue

Alex Garofalo

Sabrina Graham

Frank Lao

Julianne Lasorsa

Sarah Lasorsa

Christina McCarthy

Anthony Nicaj

Theo Pina

Katie Polizzi

Alex Priolo

Marlene Silva

Paul Soundias

Christine Tapias

Jesse Taylor

Jason Vega

Christopher Wallitsch

Pit

Genna Bellezza

Amanda Buehler

Allison DeSpirito

Jennifer Gamarra

Jessica Handibode

Emily Harrison

Maureen Metzner

Meredith Minsky

Joanna Nicolai

Alyssa Palma

Stephanie Patterson

Danielle Rivera

Elizabeth Rogan

Brooke Salvatore

Chelsea Treglia

Nitasha Dhiman

Guard

Katie Bayne

Bianca Brown

Shaquera Brown

Mallory Calonita

Kristen Carter

Candace Carvalho

Joanna Cohen

Nicole Coulon

Meghna Dharia

Tierncy Farrell

Michelle Ferreira

Jillian Fiori

Cynthia Gamarra

Maggie Garcia

Showgofa Hamraz

Catherine Lusardi

Vanessa Martins

Melissa Martone

Rachel McGrath

Jessamine McKeever

Anne Mullane

Cassandra Olivos

Alyssa Ortiz

Maryellen Owens

Christina Peralta

Theresa Rauert

Alexis Sandler

Michelle Snopkowski

Stephanie Vafiadis

Janine Yakstis

Instruction/Design

Harold Watson - Band Director

Anthony M. Romeo, II - Assistant Band Director

Don Carreras, Harold Watson - Drill Design

Anthony DeMarino - Color Guard Design

Jay Dawson - Musical Arrangements

John Oddo, Harold Watson - Percussion Arrangements

Anthony DeMarino, Pinar Akgun, Kozmo Fahringer - Color Guard Instructors

Edward Matthew, Sabrina Reid, Stephanie Wong - Gymnastics Instructor

John Oddo, Kenny Frank, Fred Sangen - Percussion Instructors

Daniel Aviles - Pit Instructor

Jim Downey - Drill Instructor

Joseph Owens, Anthony Stelmach - Wind Instructors

Kris Nuzzi, Kelly Dougherty, Susan Hahn - Alumni Staff