Composer Michael Sweeny (standing, second from right) with Garden City Middle School Principal Peter Osroff (standing, left) and Garden City Middle School grade musicians invited to perform at Hofstra University's Third Annual Middle School Honors Band Festival. The musicians are, left to right (front) William Clarke, Kimberly Ryan, Helen Minett; (center) Matthew Giordano, Maximillian Umlans, James Elustando, Valerie Nuzzolo; Elias Georgas, John Plati, Robert Pietrzak, Alexandra Bruno, Kaherine Trimmer, Lucy Petropoulos, Amanda Ferraro, Kathleen Rainis, Catherine Sullivan, and Richard Pietrzak; Eric Poisson also was invited. Seventh grade musicians from the Garden City Middle School (GCMS) Band joined more than 200 middle school musicians from across Long Island to play with the 100-member Hofstra University Symphonic Band at the Hofstra University Middle School Honors Band Festival in October.

In all, more than 340 musicians came together to command the stage as the Festival Band. The festival is designed to encourage middle school students to continue their music education and to inspire college-level musicians to teach. Middle school participants played alongside the Hofstra musicians, who acted as teachers and mentors to their younger counterparts.

Eighteen GCMS 7th graders were invited to participate in the Festival Band, more than from any other school district. The high participation rate of GCMS musicians is due largely to student mastery of essential but less common instruments such as the oboe, French horn, tuba, baritone horn and string bass, for which there is great demand. GCMS musicians played these instruments at the festival, along with the more common flute, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet.

The Festival Band met for two rehearsals and one performance featuring the work of renowned band composer and guest conductor Michael Sweeney. The program also included a special session conducted by Mr. Sweeney for the entire GCMS band. The band prepared several of Mr. Sweeney's compositions under the direction of GCMS music teachers Martha Boonshaft and Jennifer Iovino. Mr. Sweeney then conducted the students in a special clinic setting, providing the rare insight that only a composer can about his music and the creative process.

Invitations for middle school musicians to join the Festival Band were extended after an audition process held at the students' home schools in September. Middle school staff sent a list of qualified students to the Hofstra selection committee, which issued invitations based on established festival guidelines.